[Analysis of social and environmental risk for pleural involvement in severe pneumonia in children younger than 5 years of age].
OBJECTIVE
To determine social and environmental risk factors associated with pleural involvement among children from 3 to 59 months old who were hospitalized with severe pneumonia in northeastern Brazil.


METHODS
This was an observational and descriptive cross-sectional study with an analytical component. We evaluated 154 patients hospitalized due to severe pneumonia, with or without pleural involvement. Pleural involvement was determined based on radiological findings. The following variables were analyzed: age, sex, place of residence, housing conditions, day care attendance, passive smoking, family income, presence of consumer goods in the home (e.g., television, radio, refrigerator, automobile), and schooling and occupation of the mother or other caregiver. The information was obtained by interviewing the mother or other caregiver or by consulting the inpatient medical chart.


RESULTS
The frequency of pleural involvement among the 154 patients evaluated was 25.3%. The following factors were associated with pleural involvement: living in a rural area, being in a household with two or fewer rooms, family income below 170 U.S. dollars per month, and birthweight < 2 500 g.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate the need to improve the socioeconomic and living conditions of the less-privileged population, especially in rural areas. The health sector should emphasize primary care, focusing on a preventive approach beginning in the prenatal period.
Pinto
Karla Danielle B P Costa
KD
Instituto Materno Infantil de Pernambuco (IMIP), Recife (PE), Brasil. kardani13@hotmail.com
Maggi
Ruben R Schindler
RR
Alves
João Guilherme B
JG
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011322:Primary Prevention; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors