Study of Complicated Pneumonia in Children Aged 1 Month to 18 Years in South-East Europe A 10-Year Retrospective Analysis of Disease Characteristics, Causes, and Outcomes

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the clinical course of complicated community-acquired pneumonia CAP in children, focusing on cases of necrotizing pneumonia. This retrospective observational study aims to identify the causes of the infection, including viruses and bacteria, and how these relate to disease severity and outcomes. It also seeks to assess treatments, complications, short- and long-term results, and prevention methods using data collected over a ten-year period from pediatric centers in South-East Europe. The study reviews medical records of children aged 1 month to 18 years diagnosed with complicated CAP, including pneumonia with parapneumonic effusion, necrotizing pneumonia, or lung abscess, who were hospitalized between January 1, 2014, and April 30, 2024. Data collected includes patient demographics, clinical signs, laboratory tests, imaging, microbiology, treatment details such as antibiotic use and respiratory support, and outcomes including complications and follow-up imaging at 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge. Participants medical charts are carefully reviewed and entered into a standardized database to ensure quality and consistency. Researchers will analyze variables such as incidence, clinical features, vaccination status, treatment approaches, and complications. Primary outcomes focus on the number of children hospitalized with complicated CAP relative to all CAP cases, while secondary outcomes explore factors like inflammatory markers, vaccine impact, antibiotic resistance, treatment effectiveness, and long-term recovery. The study uses statistical methods to compare groups and identify factors linked to disease severity and outcomes.

Complicated Pneumonia (CP) in Children in South-East Europe