Diagnosis and management of community-acquired pneumonia in children: South African Thoracic Society guidelines.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Pneumonia remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality amongst South African children. More comprehensive immunisation regimens, strengthening of HIV programmes, improvement in socioeconomic conditions and new preventive strategies have impacted on the epidemiology of pneumonia. Furthermore, sensitive diagnostic tests and better sampling methods in young children improve aetiological diagnosis.

Objectives

To produce revised guidelines for pneumonia in South African children under 5 years of age.

Methods

The Paediatric Assembly of the South African Thoracic Society and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases established seven expert subgroups to revise existing South African guidelines focusing on: (i) epidemiology; (ii) aetiology; (iii) diagnos

SUBMITTER: Zar HJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7433705 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature