Continuing Medical Education

Epidemiology and aetiology of community-acquired pneumonia in children: South African Thoracic Society guidelines (part 1)

D P Moore, R J Green, C Cohen, G Itzikowitz, S Andronikou, A C Argent, T Avenant, P Jeena, R Masekela, M P Nicol, A Pillay, G Reubenson, S A Madhi, H J Zar

Abstract


Background. Pneumonia remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among South African (SA) children. Improved immunisation regimens, strengthening of HIV programmes, better socioeconomic conditions and new preventive strategies have influenced the epidemiology of pneumonia. Furthermore, sensitive diagnostic tests and better sampling methods in young children improve aetiological diagnosis.

Objectives. To summarise current information on childhood community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) epidemiology and aetiology in children as part of the revised South African Thoracic Society guidelines.

Methods. The Paediatric Assembly of the South African Thoracic Society and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases expert subgroup on epidemiology and aetiology revised the existing SA guidelines.The subgroup reviewed the published evidence in their area; in the absence of evidence, expert opinion was accepted. Evidence was graded using the British Thoracic Society (BTS) grading system, and the relevant section underwent peer review.

Results. Respiratory viruses, particularly respiratory syncytial virus, are the key pathogens associated with hospitalisation for radiologically confirmed pneumonia in HIV-uninfected children. Opportunistic organisms, including Pneumocystis jirovecii, are important pathogens in HIV-infected infants, while non-typable Haemophilus influenzae and Staphylococcus aureus are important in older HIV-infected children. Co-infections with bacteria or other respiratory viruses are common in hospitalised children. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is common in children hospitalised with CAP in SA.

Conclusions. Numerous public health measures, including changes in immunisation schedules and expansion of HIV prevention and treatment programmes, have influenced the epidemiology and aetiology of CAP in SA children. These changes have necessitated a revision of the South African Paediatric CAP guidelines, further sections of which will be published as part of a CME series in SAMJ.


Authors' affiliations

D P Moore, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

R J Green, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa

C Cohen, Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa

G Itzikowitz, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and University of Cape Town, South Africa

S Andronikou, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and University of Cape Town, South Africa; and Department of Pediatric Radiology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, PA, USA

A C Argent, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and University of Cape Town, South Africa

T Avenant, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa

P Jeena, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

R Masekela, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

M P Nicol, Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa; and Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

A Pillay, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

G Reubenson, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

S A Madhi, South African Medical Research Council Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Analytics Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg; and Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation: South African Research Chair in Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg,South Africa

H J Zar, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and University of Cape Town; and South African Medical Research Council Unit on Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa

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Keywords

Pneumonia; Community-acquired; Paediatric; Child; Aetiology; Epidemiology

Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2020;110(7):583-587. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2020.v110i7.14997

Article History

Date submitted: 2020-07-07
Date published: 2020-07-07

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