Pathogens Causing Respiratory Tract Infections in Children Less Than 5 Years of Age in Senegal

Knobbe, Rebecca B; Diallo, Abdallah; Fall, Amary; Gueye, Aida D; Dieng, Assane; van Immerzeel, Tabitha D; Ba, Abou; Diop, Amadou; Diop, Abdoulaye; Niang, Mbayame; Boye, Cheikh SB

Among all cases, 31.7% had a pneumonia based on WHO criteria. The main respiratory symptoms were rhinitis and cough, in 90 (88.2%) and 89 (87.3%) of cases, respectively. In all, 19.8% had a tachycardia and 32.7% a tachypnoea. None of the children had a hypoxemia during consultation. On physical examination, 52 (51.0%) cases had abnormal lung sounds of which rhonchi were the main type. An elevated CRP was seen in 72.8% of cases with a mean CRP of 47.2 (±41). In all, 46.2% had a leucocytosis with a mean number of leucocytes of 11 527.8 (±5654.5). Malaria rapid diagnostic tests were performed on only 32 cases, but all were negative. Data on treatment were available in 92 cases. Antibiotics were prescribed in 90.2% of those. Data on follow-up were only available in 51 cases. In 78.1% of those, symptoms had passed within 1 week. None of the children had to be hospitalized. Table 2 shows a summary of clinical signs and symptoms and management of cases.