The diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties of the recurrent lower respiratory tract infections in children with neurological disorders

Abstract

Background and aimsSevere clinical course of the respiratory tract infections is very frequent in children with neurological disorders. The aim of this study was to establish the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures giving the best results in this group of children. MethodsThe symptoms, clinical picture, diagnostics, treatment an outcome of lower respiratory system infections in children with neurological disorders were analyzed. The patients, according to the type of neurological dysfunction, were divided into 5 groups: progressive encephalophaties, cerebral palsy, developmental delay, chromosomal anomalies and other dysmorphic syndromes, neuromuscular diseases. The patients were analyzed according to: lower respiratory tract infections risk factors, diagnostic signs of acute lower respiratory tract infections, outcome and treatment. ResultsIn the study group the most numerous were children with cerebral palsy and with progressive encephalopaties. Those patients required target, broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, intensive chest physiotherapy, energetic and metabolic deficits supplementation, using prokinetics and careful administration of mucolitics. ConclusionsIn the treatment of the respiratory tract diseases in children with neurological disorders cooperation of pneumologist, neurologist, gastrologist and physioterapeutist is necessary.