Bradley.

Science (August 31, 2011)

immunizations, including influenza vaccine each year is the best way to protect children from life-threatening pneumonia, according to new guidelines from the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (Sopi) and society Infectious Diseases of America (IDSA). These guidelines are the first in the diagnosis and treatment of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) in infants and children place to prevent bacterial pneumonia as a priority. Each year, pneumonia kills more than 2 million children aged 5 years and younger around the world. In the United States, 525 children under 15 years old or younger died from pneumonia and other lower respiratory tract infections in 2006, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While pneumonia can be caused by different types of errors in infants and preschool children usually caused by a virus that can not be cured with antibiotics. However, antibiotics are necessary for bacterial pneumonia, which is the most serious kind. Although there are guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia in adults, usually bacterial pneumonia are usually different for children. In this regard, the practice varies from hospital to hospital and doctor to doctor. The recommendations of PIDS and IDSA to ensure all physicians who care for children with a roadmap most science-based recommendations for diagnosis and treatment. Methods of diagnosis and treatments that work well in adults can be too risky and not have the desired effect in children, said John S. Bradley, MD, lead author of the CAP principles and professor, head of infectious diseases at the University of California at San Diego , Department of Pediatrics. Using these principles, we hope that the level and quality of child care are for community acquired pneumonia will meet from doctor to doctor - providing a much better outcome. Because viral infections such as flu can develop into bacterial pneumonia, it is important that children between 6 months and older receive an annual influenza vaccine, in accordance with the guidelines. It is also important that babies and children up to date on other scheduled vaccines, some of which prevent bacterial pneumonia. A successful vaccination of the U.S. led to a significant reduction of bacterial pneumonia, and therefore not allowed deaths from this infection, said Dr. Bradley. While the guidelines emphasize the importance of diagnosing pneumonia correctly, they also warn that excessive treatment is an important factor. For example, the majority of pneumonia in preschool children are viral, meaning it will strattera without prescritpion go its own way and not turn into a life-threatening bacterial pneumonia. In these cases there is no need to perform unnecessary medical interventions, such as the use of X-rays (which provide energy needs of the child) or antibiotics (which kill bacteria, not viruses and can contribute to drug-resistant bacteria). A child with blood flow to the chest, cough, runny nose and slight fever is likely to have viral pneumonia, and Mother Nature treats them himself, said Dr. Bradley. If the child has fever 104, hardly able to keep the fluid down, just wants to lie in bed and breathing quickly, it could be bacterial pneumonia and require antibiotics and hospitalization. The guidelines suggest when doctors can feel comfortable, not appointed to a higher level of care and when they should be careful and do it. According to project guidelines begin with the recommendations of hospitalization. Most of these children will be their first meeting, when they have fever and shortness of breath and see your doctor or medical emergencies, said Dr. Bradley. The first important decision that should be done because the child is well enough to return home, or he or she requires a high level of service? For example, it is recommended children from 3 to 6 months with suspected bacterial pneumonia, is likely to benefit from hospitalization, even if the pneumonia was not confirmed by blood tests. Blood tests in children are often not accurate, so that physicians should pay close attention to symptoms, and if unsure, err in the direction of treatment, said Dr. Bradley. Because children younger than 6 months and can not get a flu shot or nasal spray, their parents and caregivers should be sure to get the vaccine. When antibiotics are needed, amoxicillin should be first-line treatment of bacterial pneumonia, because it is safe and effective. Many doctors prescribe more powerful antibiotics are not necessary and can kill beneficial bacteria in the body. Although pneumonia with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus gold (MRSA) is rare, it can cause serious disease, so physicians should consider this if the child does not improve after first-line antibiotic therapy. For each of 92 specific recommendations, the guidelines indicate the power of recommendations and quality of evidence for each. Management noted the lack of conclusive evidence in some areas - often through the study of ethical problems of children - and call for research in specific areas. We hope that following these guidelines, physicians and hospitals to collect data and results can be compared, said Dr. Bradley. We see this as the first of many changes in the guidelines in the future. 13 members of the guidelines panel consisting of experts from different countries, including light, emergency department, hospital medicine and critical care specialists, office-based pediatricians, pediatric surgeons and CDC epidemiologists. They reviewed hundreds of scientific studies, reports and presentations in preparation for writing a guide. In addition to Dr. Bradley, the panel included: Kerry L. Samir S. Shah Bayinhton, Brian Alverson, Edward R. Carter, Christopher Harrison, Sheldon L. Kaplan, Sharon E. Mace, George Mak-Kraken Jr., Matthew R. Moore , Shawn D. St. Peter, Jana A. Stockwell and Jack T. Swanson. Recommend this story on Facebook, Twitter

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