A comparative study to evaluate the risk factors for patients admitted with community acquired pneumonia in pediatrics department of people’s hospital Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the risk factors associated with Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) in patientsadmitted to the Pediatric department of People’s Hospital Bhopal (MP). Methodology: This was acase-control study which compared patients of CAP aged 2 months to 60 months, admitted inPediatric department of People’s Hospital with children attending well-baby and immunization clinicof People’s hospital. Risk factors that were evaluated included demographic, socioeconomic, housing,past and family history, birth variables, nutritional variables, immunization, delay in presentationand previous treatment. Result: The study enrolled in 209 cases and 209 unmatched controls. Malegender, significant past and family history, lower socioeconomic status, poor housing, indoor smoke,overcrowding, incomplete immunization and malnutrition were associated with increased risk of CAP.Previous treatment and delayed presentation were associated with increasing severity of CAP.Conclusion: Concentrated efforts are needed in a direction to reduce the risk factors associatedwith CAP to prevent the major cause of death of children younger than 5 years.