Detection of pneumonia among children under six years by clinical evaluation.
To determine the most useful clinical symptoms and signs for detection of pneumonia in children, we carried out a prospective clinical study at Queen Alia Hospital, Amman, on 147 children admitted between August 2002 and January 2003 with clinical pneumonia. All the children had chest X-rays, which were read by the same radiologist. The most sensitive and specific signs and symptoms for prediction of pneumonia were coughing, tachypnoea (respiratory rate > 50/min) and chest wall indrawing. We found that presence of tachypnoea and lower chest wall indrawing can detect most cases of pneumonia. If all clinical signs are negative, chest X-ray findings are unlikely to be positive.
Shamo'on
H
H
Department of Paediatrics, Queen Alia Military Hospital, Royal Medical Services, Amman, Jordan.
Hawamdah
A
A
Haddadin
R
R
Jmeian
S
S
D000367:Age Factors; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007366:Intercostal Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D007597:Jordan; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012119:Respiration; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents