Perfil epidemiológico das internações por pneumonia na ala pediátrica do hospital universitário de Lagarto

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Pneumonia is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population in various countries. Its prevalence, etiology, and prognosis are influenced by conditions associated with the child and the family context. Such determinants impact the manifestation, worsening, and emergence of complications. Thus, the study aim to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of pediatric hospitalizations for pneumonia at the University Hospital of Lagarto, as well as the factors associated with longer hospitalization duration. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted with the collection of clinical-epidemiological data from medical records, involving patients aged between 0 and under 13 years old, from January 2022 to January 2024, with a primary or secondary diagnosis of pneumonia. Characteristics were described in percentages and averages, and variables were compared between two groups based on hospitalization duration (0-7 days and 8-74 days) using the Student's T-test or chi-square test. RESULTS: A higher rate of hospitalization was observed between April and June, with an average duration of 7.02 days. There was a prevalence of male patients, with an average age of 3.3 years, primarily from the local municipality and with viral etiology. An association was found between shorter hospitalization duration and the use of bronchodilators, oseltamivir, corticosteroids, magnesium sulfate, and identification of the etiological agent (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A relationship was evidenced between seasonality and the number of hospitalizations, as well as a higher frequency of viral pneumonia in children under 5 years old, with the main agent being respiratory syncytial virus. There was a correlation between corticosteroid use and shorter hospitalization times, as well as an association between antiviral use and prolonged hospitalization. Conversely, no such relationship was found with antibiotic therapy.