A Review of Clinical Profile of Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Hospitalized Paediatric Patients

Introduction: Lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) includes all infections of the lungs and large airways below the larynx. On average, children <5 years of age suffer about 5-6 LRTI episodes per year. Aim: To study the clinical profile of LRTIs in PICU and paediatric wards of a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective, analytic, hospital-based, descriptive, and non-interventional study done on LRTI children aged 1–72 months. A total of 31 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included in this study. A proper history and clinical examination with more emphasis on the respiratory system was carried out. Investigations such as CBC, ESR, CRP, and chest X-Ray were done. Descriptive statistics were done. Results: There were a total of 16 (51.6%) male and 15 (48.4%) female participants. Thirty (96.8%) patients had cough and fever. Rapid breathing or difficulty in breathing was present in 19 (61.3%) patients. Ten (32.3%) patients had respiratory distress. Twenty-three (74.2%) patients had abnormal respiratory system. There were 21 (67.7%) patients who had raised ESR>20. Nineteen (61.3%) patients had raised CRP>6. According to the final diagnosis, there were 18 (58.1%) patients who had broncho-pneumonia, 6 (19.6%) had bronchiolitis and 1 (3.2%) patient had bronchitis. Conclusion: Bronchopneumonia is the predominant form of presentation in infants and preschool children. The focus of health care services should be on the necessary components of LRTIs such as nutrition, immunization, and environment.