TITLE:
Pneumonia of Children under 5 Years of Age in Brazzaville (Republic of Congo)
AUTHORS:
A. R. Okoko, E. Hossie, I. C. N’djobo-Mamadoud, E. Moyen, G. Ekouya Bowassa, G. Moyen
KEYWORDS:
Pneumonia, Children, Morbidity, Mortality, Risk Factors, Brazzaville, Congo
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.7 No.3,
September
7,
2017
ABSTRACT: Pneumonia is one of the prime causes of morbidity and
mortality in children under five years of age. Objectives: To determine the
frequency of pneumonia, to identify the causative organisms and the factors associated
with death in children under 5 years of age. Methods: A prospective cohort
study was performed in children 1 to 59 months hospitalized for pneumonia between
January and June 2016 in CHUB pediatric wards. Results: A total of 237 children
were hospitalized for pneumonia, i.e. 12.3% of hospitalizations. There were 133 boys (56%) and 104 girls (44%)
with a mean age of 15.9 ± 13.8 months. The average time elapsed between onset of
symptoms and hospitalization was 7.2 ± 6.1 days. The alveolar syndrome 185 cases
(81%), alveolo-interstitial 34 cases (15%), alveolar and pleural 9 cases (4%) were
the main radiological translations. Blood cultures were positive in 74 cases (31%)
and the bacteria identified were: Streptococcus pneumoniae 42 cases (17.5%), Staphylococcus
Aureus 23 cases (9.6%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae 9 cases (3.7%). HIV serology was
positive in 19 cases (8%). Fifty-eight (58) children (24%) died. Factors associated
with death were respiratory distress, hypoxemia and hypothermia. Conclusion:
Pneumonia of children under 5 years of age is frequent and severe prognosis. Their
mastery requires the strengthening of the national respiratory disease control program
and the knowledge of risk factors.