title: Review of respiratory infections in a developing country.
abstract: Two hundred and seventy-one patients were studied, who had been admitted to the University Hospital, Kinshasa between 1975 and May 1979 with pulmonary infections including pulmonary tuberculosis. Patients' ages ranged between 0-66 years (mean 12 years). Major incidence was between 0-5 years: 90 cases (33%) between 0-1 year and 86 cases (32%) between 1-5 years. Only 95 cases (35%) ranged from 5-66 years. Principal treatment was based on pleural drainage combined with medical treatment. In complicated cases, major thoracic surgery was performed. The mortality rate of 44 cases (16%) mainly very young children, demonstrates the severity of respiratory infections in childhood. It is concluded that many cases result from the poor general physical condition of most of these patients.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology