Prevalencia de neumonía diagnosticada por radiografía de tórax en niños de 1 a 5 años en la Fundación Pablo Jaramillo. Enero - diciembre 2022. Cuenca-Ecuador

Abstract

Pneuminia in children has become a cause of mortality worldwide. According to a UNICEF publication in 2022, the most affected age group is children under 5 years since this group is vulnerable to biological agents such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi, which can cause this respiratory disease. Chest X-ray is the main imaging technique to diagnose pneumonia. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of pneumonia diagnosed by chest X-ray in children aged 1 to 5 years who received medical care at Pablo Jaramillo Foundation from january to December 2022, in Cuenca, Ecuador. Method: A quantitative study was carried out along with a descriptive retrospective approach. Data provided was analyzed and tabulated according to the study variables. Results: Out of 392 patients, 44.4% of them reported a diagnosis of pneumonia by chest X-ray, occurring more frequently in 1-year-old children (24.1%). It was also reported that pneumonia often affects males (61.5%). Interstitial pneumonia showed the highest porcentaje (52.3%), affecting both lungs (63.8)%. In regard to radiological findings, the most characteristic was the air bronchogram (25.3%). Conclusion: Pneumonia is prevalent in 1-year-old children and affects both lungs, which is in line with findings of other research studies