The Underlying Causes of Recurrent Pneumonia in Children: A Two-Center Study

Abstract

Background: Recurrent pneumonia is a challenge for pediatric pulmonologists. There are limited data on the underlying causes of recurrent pneumonia in children in the developing countries. Aim: To identify the underlying causes of recurrent pneumonia in children with undiagnosed etiology. Patients and Methods: The study was conducted in Pulmonology Units, Pediatric Departments Tanta and Ain-Shams Universities Hospitals from 2017 to 2019. Fifty-six cases children with a diagnosis of recurrent pneumonia were included to identify the etiologies. The underlying causes were confirmed in each case according to the clinical features and the diagnostic tests. Results: Uncontrolled bronchial asthma was the commonest cause of recurrent pneumonia (23.2%), followed by congenital heart diseases (12.5%) and aspiration syndromes (12.5%). Conclusion: Uncontrolled bronchial asthma was the most common underlying cause of recurrent pneumonia in children, so early diagnosis and proper controller therapy may decrease the risk of occurrence of recurrent pneumonia.