Evaluation of the degree of tachypnea for hospitalizing children with pneumonia.

ABSTRACT

This was a hospital based prospective study to determine the cut-off respiratory rates which can identify children (age < or =14.5 yr) with sever pneumonia with chest indrawing and to evaluate the validity of the cutoff respiratory rate so obtained in identifying sever pneumonia requiring hospitalization. All children diagnosed with pneumonia (radiologically proven) between September 1997 and October 1999 were enrolled. Of 1,665 cases, 54.7% were males; the median age was 1.8 yr (range 8 days-14.5 yr, mean 2.8 +/- 2.7 yr). Frequency of hospitalization, tachypnea and chest indrawing were 29.9%, 58.9% and 42.7%. In hospitalized children, cutoff respiratory rate > or =57, > or =48, and > or =36 were found to identify sever pneumonia requiring hospitalization in the age groups 2-11 mo, 12-59 mo and > or =5 yr, respectively.