Impact of variation in pediatric body weight on course and prognosis of Pneumonia

Abstract EN

Background: Obesity is a common pediatric health problem and has a direct impact on child health, his family and community.

Drawing attention to potential association between body weight with course and prognosis of pediatric disease.

Objective: To find the relation between abnormal pediatric body weight and course& prognosis of pediatric pneumonia.

Subjects& Methods: It was a case control comparative study included 138 patients aged from (2 to 14) years diagnosed with pediatric pneumonia.

They had been admitted at inpatient units in Children hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Ain shams university, Egypt.

through the period from February 2019 to February 2020; One hundred eighteen child were of average weight patients, 8 are overweight, 8were obese patients and nine of them were under weight All children undergone a detailed history taking, Careful physical examination including complete anthropometric measures, calculation of Body Mass Index (BMI) of each child, Chest X- ray, Laboratory tests and determination of patients who are at risk for development of complications or need of mechanical ventilation.

Results: A total of 138 children with pediatric pneumonia aged between 2 to 14years were studied.

They were 84 males and 39 females.

The mean of age was 7.8, Our study revealed that.

Obese patients was more liable for respiratory distress more than average weight group (P value=0.01).

Obese and overweight group showed increase in the need& duration of Mechanical ventilation (P value=0.004).

Also, there is double increase in complications and underweight& obese patients 50% in comparison to average weight group (P value=0.002).

More frequent complication among obese patients& underweight group, In comparison average weight group (P value=0.001).

Conclusion: An abnormal pediatric body weight and abnormal BMI had a direct negative impact on child health, well being, affect pediatric mortality and morbidity and have a negative effect on health care cost and an increased economic burden on family and community.