title: Clinical characteristics of lung abscess in children: 15-year experience at two university hospitals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Information on the clinical features of lung abscess, which is uncommon in children, at hospitalizationis helpful to anticipate the disease course and management. There is no report concerning lung abscess in Korean children. We aimed to identify the clinical characteristics of pediatric lung abscess and compare the difference between primary and secondary abscess groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of 11 lung abscess patients (7 males and 4 females) from March 1998 to August 2011 at two university hospitals were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical characteristics, symptoms, underlying disease, laboratory and radiologic findings, microbiological results, and treatments were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six patients had underlying structural-related problems (e.g., skeletal anomalies). No immunologic or hematologic problem was recorded. The mean ages of the primary and secondary groups were 2.4 and 5.3 years, respectively, but the difference was not statistically significant. The mean length of hospital stay was similar in both groups (22.8 days vs. 21.4 days). Immunologic studies were performed in 3 patients; the results were within the normal range. Most patients had prominent leukocytosis. Seven and 4 patients had right and left lung abscess, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and antimycoplasma antibodies were detected in both groups. Two patients with primary lung abscess were administered antibiotics in the absence of other procedures, while 8 underwent interventional procedures, including 5 with secondary abscess.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most common symptoms were fever and cough. All patients in the primary group were younger than 3 years. Structural problems were dominant. Most patients required interventional procedures and antibiotics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.; Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi Suk
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hye
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Suk
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeong Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Rha
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
keywords: Child; Lung abscess; Predisposing factor