One year study of cases of severe pneumonia treated with chloramphenicol

ABSTRACT

All cases, aged 2 months to 5 years diagnosed as severe pneumonia according to A.R.I. programme during study year March 1995 to March 1996 were included in the study. The purpose was to determine a] clinical features on presentation, b] correlation between clinical and radiological diagnosis and c] response to treatment with chloramphenicol. Among total admissions of 1623 cases, 24.32% were admitted with respiratory complaints. 71 cases were classified as severe pneumonia according to ARI programme, and treated with chloramphenicol, 3 cases were excluded from the study as they left within 48 hrs. Out of remaining 68 children, 41 [60.29%] were below I year, 15 were 1-3 yrs and 12 cases were 3-5 yrs old. MY ratio was 1.7 I. In 45.6% of cases the duration of complaints was less than 48 hrs, while in 48.6% it was 35 days. Only 25 cases i.e. 36.76% had radiological changes consistent with pneumonia out of which 7 [10.29%] had lobar pneumonia. 61/68 cases i.e. 89.70% responded to treatment with chloramphenicol with clinical response within 48 hrs but 22/61 cases needed treatment for 7 days due to persistent clinical signs. One child expired within 24 hrs, [mortality of 1.47%] and treatment was changed in 6 cases [8.82%] due to lack of response in 48 hrs. This study confirms that chloramphenical is an effective treatment for most cases of severe pneumonia