RESUMO
To evaluate the common causes of pleural effusion in children. Retrospective study. Liaquat University Hospitals Jamshoro, Hyderabad. The data of all paediatric patients of major pleural effusion from January 2005 was collected and analyzed retrospectively to determine the cause of pleural effusion. This study was conducted on 50 patients. The boys were 30 [60%] and 20 [40%] were girls; male to female ration was 3:2. Age range was three years to 14 years. All patients belonged to poor socioeconomic class. The common symptoms were fever and cough. X-Ray chest showed large pleural effusion. Forty [80%] patients were anemic with less than 8gm Hb level. In 39 patients the ESR was less than 40mm in the first hour. The pleural fluid specimen was taken for culture and sensitivity. Sputum was sent for acid fast bacilli. In two patients, the puss was thick; these patients underwent thoracotomy and decortications. Tuberculous pleural effusion was the most commonly encountered. It was found in 35 [66%] cases. The second most common cause was paraneumonic pleural effusion