Pediatria pre prax 3/2009

Necrotizing pneumonia - Clinical characteristics of children hospitalized at 1. Pediatric Department of Children University Hospital in years 2004–2008

Number of pediatric cases with complicated community-acquired pneumonia in developed countries has according to various sources increased. Children with pneumonia represent at the 1st. Pediatric Department of University Hospital in Bratislava 5,8 % of all hospitalized children. In year 2008 we have admitted 4 patients with radiologic presentation of necrotizing pneumonia and after a retrospective analysis of data from the last five years (2004–2008) we have found totally 7 cases. Common signs were fever lasting for at least 4 days previous to hospitalization, C-reactive protein over 100 mg/l and multilobar involvement on computer tomography chest scans. Most frequently identified pathogen was Streptococcus pneumoniae. No one of our seven patients has confirmed to have immune defect. Thoracoscopic decortication has been successfully performed in 4 patients. Prognosis of pediatric patients with necrotizing pneumonia when comparing to adults seems to be substantially better.

Keywords: necrotizing pneumonia, Streptococcus pneumoniae, C-reactive protein, thoracoscopic decortication.