[Pulmonary function in children following community-acquired pneumonia contracted at pre-school age]
A I Jiménez Ortega, A López-Neyra, V Sanz Santiago, J Alvarez-Coca, J R Villa Asensi, A I Jiménez Ortega, A López-Neyra, V Sanz Santiago, J Alvarez-Coca, J R Villa Asensi
Abstract
Aim: Some studies relate pulmonary function (PF) during adult life to community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) suffered during infancy. The aim of the present work was to evaluate PF in children following CAP, contracted at pre-school age, which required hospitalisation. The hypothesis was that, once resolved, CAP in pre-school age children does not affect PF; further monitoring should therefore be unnecessary.
Methods and materials: PF was studied in a cohort of children who had suffered CAP at pre-school age, for which they were hospitalised. Children aged over 4 years were selected to try to ensure adequate collaboration, and a forced spirometry test was attempted in all of them.
Results: Of the initial 49 patients, 42 (85.7%) correctly performed the forced spirometry test. All were asymptomatic at the time of examination. The mean age of these patients was 6,6 ± 1,2 years; 25 were boys (54,3%). The mean time between CAP and the test was 19,5 ± 7,6 months. The results (mean ± SD) obtained with respect to theoretical values were: forced respiratory volume in the first second 107.73 ± 14.56% and forced vital capacity 101,6 ± 15,35%.
Conclusions: The PF of children who have suffered CAP at pre-school age is normal following the resolution of the condition. No further PF studies are required after CAP resolves.
Copyright © 2011 Asociación Española de Pediatría. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.
Source: PubMed