Table 3.
Clinical management and outcome of children with respiratory symptoms who were hospitalised, before and after the intervention
| Management and outcome |
Before N = 38 |
After N = 13 |
p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Department admitted to | |||
| Infectious diseases | 36 (94.7) | 12 (92.3) | - |
| Respiratory | 2 (5.3) | 1 (7.7) | - |
| Reason for admission* | |||
| Underlying co-morbid conditionsa | 5 (12.2) | 0 | - |
| Parental worries | 1 (2.4) | 0 | - |
| Unresponsive to first line treatment | 19 (46.3) | 8 (61.5) | - |
| Danger signsb and Sp02 < 92% | 7 (17.0) | 1 (7.7) | - |
| Othersc | 9 (22.1) | 4 (30.8) | - |
| Clinical signs and symptoms | |||
| Fast breathingd | 24 (63.2) | 5 (38.5) | 0.19 |
| Sp02 < 92% | 7 (18.4) | 1 (7.7) | 0.66 |
| Danger signsb | 2 (5.3) | 1 (7.7) | 1.00 |
| Fevere | 24 (63.2) | 10 (76.9) | 0.50 |
| Wheezef | 10 (26.3) | 2 (15.4) | 0.71 |
| Chest radiograph findings | 38 (100.0) | 13 (100.0) | - |
| Normal | 13 (34.2) | 7 (53.8) | 0.32 |
| Consolidation/patchy infiltration | 16 (42.1) | 2 (15.4) | 0.10 |
| Other abnormalities | 9 (23.7) | 4 (30.8) | 0.72 |
| Blood neutrophil count | 38 (100.0) | 13 (100.0) | - |
| < 5,000 g/l | 13 (34.2) | 7 (53.8) | 0.32 |
| 5–10,000 g/l | 15 (39.5) | 3 (23.1) | 0.34 |
| > 10,000 g/l | 10 (26.3) | 3 (23.1) | 1.00 |
| CRP | 36 (94.7) | 13 (100.0) | - |
| < 50 g/l | 30 (83.3) | 10 (76.9) | 0.68 |
| ≥ 50 mg/l | 6 (16.7) | 3 (23.1) | |
| Diagnosis at admission | |||
| Pneumonia | 25 (65.8) | 6 (46.2) | 0.32 |
| Asthma | 1 (2.6) | 0 (0) | - |
| Bronchiolitis | 9 (23.7) | 1 (7.6) | - |
| URTI | 3 (7.9) | 6 (46.2) | < 0.001 |
| Diagnosis at discharge | |||
| Pneumonia | 24 (63.2) | 6 (46.2) | 0.34 |
| Asthma | 1 (2.6) | 0 (0) | - |
| Bronchiolitis | 8 (21.1) | 0 (0) | - |
| URTI | 5 (13.1) | 7 (53.8) | < 0.001 |
| Treatment | |||
| Oral antibiotics | 26 (72.2) | 7 (53.8) | 0.50 |
| IV antibiotics | 6 (16.7) | 1 (7.6) | 0.66 |
| No antibiotics | 4 (11.1) | 5 (38.6) | 0.04 |
| Readmission within 1 week | 1 (2.6) | 0 (0) | - |
Sp02 peripheral oxygen saturation, CRP C-reactive protein. URTIs upper respiratory tract infections, IV intravenous
*More than 1 reason possible
asuch as congenital heart disease, or immunocompromise
binability to breastfeed or drink from bottle, vomiting everything, lethargy or reduced level of consciousness, convulsions, respiratory distress (grunting or nasal flaring), severe stridor, severe malnutrition
chigh fever and cough, abnormal blood test results defined as breath rate of ≥ 50/minute aged 2–11 months, or ≥ 40/minute aged 12–59 months [13]
etemperature ≥ 38.50C on admission
faudible wheeze or wheeze on auscultation