Pediatria pre prax 5/2007

TREATMENT OF LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS

Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are the most frequent infections in children. Diagnostic and treatment is mostly clear, but we have to reevaluate our diagnostic a terapeutic advances according new meta-analysis. LRTIs are the most important global cause of hospitalisation and death in children under 3 years of age. Because of increasing number of immunocompromised and immatured children with multiresistent bacterial species, new viruses, new atypical clinical picture with lifethreating complications and very quickly acute course, increases rates of hospitalisation. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause, therefore routine infant immunisation with seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine /PCV7) in Slovakia subsequent to the reduction in pneumonia admissions in children.

Keywords: lower respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, tracheitis, bronchitis, bronchiolitis.