Differentiation of bacterial and viral pneumonia in children

Background: A study was undertaken to investigate the differential diagnostic role of chest radiographic findings, total white blood cell count (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and serum C reactive protein (CRP) in children with community acquired pneumonia of varying aetiology. Methods: The study population consisted of 254 consecutive children admitted to hospital with community acquired pneumonia diagnosed between 1993 and 1995. WBC, ESR, and CRP levels were determined on admission. Seventeen infective agents (10 viruses and seven bacteria) were searched for. Chest radiographs were retrospectively and separately reviewed by three paediatric radiologists. Results: A potential causative agent was found in 215 (85%) of the 254 cases. Bacterial infection was found in 71% of 137 children with alveolar infiltrates on the chest radiograph, while 72% of the 134 cases with a bacterial pneumonia had alveolar infiltrates. Half of the 77 children with solely interstitial infiltrates on the chest radiograph had evidence of bacterial infection. The proportion of patients with increased WBC or ESR did not differ between bacterial and viral pneumonias, but differences in the CRP levels of >40 mg/l, >80 mg/l, and >120 mg/l were significant although the sensitivity for detecting bacterial pneumonia was too low for use in clinical practice. Conclusions: Most children with alveolar pneumonia, especially those with lobar infiltrates, have laboratory evidence of a bacterial infection. Interstitial infiltrates are seen in both viral and bacterial pneumonias

Complications of tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration in children: report of 5 cases and review of the literature Complicações de aspiração de corpo estranho traqueobrônquico em crianças: relato de 5 casos e revisão da literatura

Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is one of leading causes of death in children, especially among those younger than 3 years of age. The inhalation of a foreign body may cause a wide variety of symptoms, and early diagnosis is highly associated with the successful removal of the inhaled foreign material. Despite the great advances in endoscopic procedures and anesthesia, a large number of difficulties and complications still result from foreign body aspiration. We describe 5 cases of serious acute complications following aspiration of foreign bodies that became lodged in the tracheobronchial tree, including pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, total atelectasis, foreign body dislodgment, and need for thoracotomy in children admitted into our intensive care unit in 1999 and 2000; these were all situations that could have been prevented with early recognition and prompt therapeutic intervention.<br>Aspiração de corpo estranho em via áerea é uma das principais causas de morte em crianças, especialmente nas menores que 3 anos de idade. A aspiração do corpo estranho pode causar um amplo espectro de sintomas, e o diagnóstico precoce é altamente associado com o sucesso da retirada do material inalado. Apesar dos grandes avanços nos procedimentos endoscópicos e anestésicos, um grande número de dificuldades e complicações ainda estão presentes nesta situação clínica. Neste estudo, descrevemos 5 casos de sérias complicações agudas, incluindo pneumomediatismo, pneumotórax, atelectasia total, migração do corpo estranho e necessidade de toracotomia, em crianças admitidas em nosso Centro de Terapia Intensiva em 1999 e 2000, situações essas que poderiam ser prevenidas com reconhecimento precoce e rápida intervenção terapêutica