BACTERIAL PNEUMONIA;

CORRELATION BETWEEN LABORATORY MARKERS (C REACTIVE PROTEIN, WHITE BLOOD CELLS) AND TREATMENT FAILURE WITH ORAL AMOXICILLIN IN BACTERIAL PNEUMONIA IN CHILDREN AGED 2-59 MONTHS OLD.

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the correlation between laboratory markers (C Reactive Protein, White Blood Cells) and treatment failure with Oral Amoxicillin in Bacterial Pneumonia in children aged 2-59 months old at Pediatrics Emergency Department LUMHS Hyderabad. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: Department of Pediatric Emergency LUMHS, Civil Hospital Hyderabad. Period: November 2015 to May 2016. Methodology: A total of 80 children aged 2-59 months old were treated with Oral Amoxicillin 90mg/kg/day for 5 days and response to treatment was assessed on 3^rd day of admission. Blood was drawn from the veins over the dorsum of either hand at initial visit for C Reactive Protein and WBC Count. Children who do not improve on 3^rd day of admission were declared treatment failure and switched to 2^nd line treatment that is Injection Ceftriaxone. Results: In this study overall 78.7% children improved with Oral Amoxicillin 90mg/kg/day BD for 5 days, while 16.3% children had treatment failure on Oral Amoxicillin. 5% children were defaulted due to parents concerns. Conclusion: C Reactive Protein is a valuable marker that can predict the response of Oral Antibiotics in bacterial Pneumonia in children. Cost effectiveness can be determined by further studies, hence to justify that which children with Bacterial Pneumonia should be treated with 2^nd line Injectable antibiotics from very beginning of treatment.