Assesment of Paediatric Varicella Pneumonia
[ X ]
Tarih
2016
Dergi Başlığı
Dergi ISSN
Cilt Başlığı
Yayıncı
Univ West Indies Faculty Medical Sciences
Erişim Hakkı
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Özet
Background: The objective of the study was to determine the clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and respiratory complications of varicella zoster pneumonia (VZP) in children. Material and methods: Relevant data, age, gender, month of admission, demographic data, past medical and family histories, physical findings during admission, laboratory findings, treatments given, and outcome of these treatments with diagnosis of varicella pneumonia were collected retrospectively. Results: In a two-year period, 15 cases were identified and their data were analysed. Eight patients were male (53%) and seven were female (43%). The mean age was 4.7 +/- 3.7 months. Twelve cases (80%) were under six months of age and nine patients (60%) had household contact with persons with chicken pox infection. After onset of the chicken pox rash, the mean time for development of respiratory symptoms was 3.5 +/- 1.0 days. The mean hospital stay was 13 +/- 1.8 days and ranged from 9-17 days. The persisting fever, fatigue, and cough episodes were major presenting symptoms upon admission in almost all the patients. All patients received acyclovir and non-specific pneumonia treatment and all recovered. None of the children were previously immunized against varicella. Conclusions: Varicella zoster pneumonia should be considered in patients with prolonged fever and accompanying cough in patients with chicken pox. Probably the best approach would be a trial of high dose acyclovir treatment in children who develop VZP.
Açıklama
Anahtar Kelimeler
Acyclovir, Child, Pneumonia, Varicella Zoster
Kaynak
West Indian Medical Journal
WoS Q Değeri
Q4
Scopus Q Değeri
Q4
Cilt
65
Sayı
3
