| Abstrakt: |
Background: Pneumonia remains one of the most common causes of hospitalization and is leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Some studies have reported a relationship between serum levels of vitamin D and an increased incidence of pneumonia. The aim of this work was to assess vitamin D in infants, toddlers and preschool children suffering from pneumonia and correlate its level with severity, duration of hospital stay and outcome. Methods: This cross-sectional study wasconducted on 120 preschool children. They suffered frompneumonia and were admitted to the PICU and Pulmonology Unit, Children's Hospital Zagazig University from July 2021 to June 2022. A complete clinical examination was performed with special concern for anthropometric measurements, a history of sun exposure, a history of Ca and vitamin D supplementation, a previous history of LRTIS, a duration of hospital stay, a chest examination, signs of respiratory distress, CBC, CRP, blood pH and vitamin D. Results: The study included 51 (42.5%) infants, 53(44.2%) toddlers and 16 (13.3%) preschool children. Their ages ranged from 6 to 56 months. Regarding of severity, 49.2% of patients had severe pneumonia and 50.8% had very severe pneumonia. Vitamin D was insufficient in 14.2%, deficient in 73.3% and severely deficient in 12.5% of the patients. There was a significant relationship between vitamin D and the severity of pneumonia, duration of hospital stay, need for PICU and outcome. Conclusions: The role of vitamin D in the severity of pneumonia, duration of hospital stay and outcomes in children between 6 and 60 months could be assured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
