[Diagnostic assessment of head nodding in hypoxemia in children with pneumonia].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the clinical usefulness of the head nodding sign (HN) in children with pneumonia.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study that included 62 children aged 2-59 months. Hypoxemia was defined as arterial oxygen saturation <94% measured by pulse oximetry. HN was examined with regard to three levels of hypoxemia (<94%, <or= 90%, <or= 84%).


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of hypoxemia was 56.5 %. HN was observed in 64.5% (40) of the patients, 48.4% (30) of those had pneumonia and 73.1% were hypoxemic. HN showed a sensitivity of 73.2% and a specificity of 52.4%. Accuracy of HN was better when a cut off level <94% was used. HN in infants was a better index for hypoxemia than for older children.


CONCLUSIONS
HN was a good predictor of hypoxemia in children with pneumonia. It seems that HN is an easily recognizable sign, and it could be easily taught to parents and health workers.
Martínez-Medina
Miguel Angel
MA
Servicio de neonatología, Hospital Infantil del Estado de Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora, México. tmx6622173381@prodigy.net.mx
Alvarez-Hernández
Gerardo
G
Contreras-Mendoza
Ana B
AB
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019416:Head Movements; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results