Recurrent pneumonia in children: clinical profile and underlying causes

Abstract

Aim: To study the clinical profile and describe the predisposing causes of recurrent pneumonia in Indian children. Methods: The clinical details and the investigations of children presenting with recurrent pneumonia to the paediatric chest clinic services of a tertiary care centre in northern India were reviewed. Results: Seventy children (44M, 26F) presented with recurrent pneumonia over a period of 5 y. Based on the clinical features and the results of the investigations, underlying illness could be identified in 59 children (84%). The most frequent underlying cause for recurrent pneumonia was recurrent aspiration (24.2%), followed by immunodeficiency (15.7%), asthma (14.2%) and structural anomalies (8.6%). Conclusion: The underlying cause of recurrent pneumonia was identified in more than 80% of children. Recurrent aspirations were the most common cause.