EMPYEMA THORACIS IN CHILDREN: A CLINICAL STUDY.

Corresponding Author:
Dr. Narendra Laishram,
JN Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal.
E-mail: drlnarendra@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Empyema thoracis is a disease that despite centuries of study still causes significant morbidity and mortality.

AIMS

To study the age-sex profile, clinical presentation, etiologic agents, management and the overall treatment outcome of empyema thoracis in children.

METHODOLOGY

A total of 25 patients of both the sexes aged 0-12 years diagnosed to have empyema thoracis and who underwent tube thoracostomy from March 2013 to February 2014 were studied. Detailed clinical history, physical examination, relevant routine and specific investigation were done. The pleural fluid was studied for gram staining, microscopy, cytology, pleural fluid culture and antibiotic sensitive pattern. All the patients were treated with tube thoracostomy and antibiotic therapy depending on the culture and sensitivity pattern. Complications were recorded.

RESULTS

Majority of patients (0.64%) were seen in age group of 1-5 years. Fever (96%), breathlessness (92%), and cough (72%) were the commonest presenting features. Bacteriological examination revealed staphylococcus aureus as the commonest etiologic agent (20%) isolated from pleural fluid culture. Pyopneumothorax (16%) was the commonest complication seen in these patients. All patients (92%) were treated with antibiotics, and drainage of the empyema was effected by closed thoracostomy in (92%) of the cases. There was no mortality.

CONCLUSION

Empyema is not rare in our practice. Early diagnosis and proper treatment of pneumonia prevent the development of empyema. Antibiotics and tube thoracostomy is an effective method of treating pyogenic empyema thoracis in children in resource poor settings.

KEYWORDS

Tube Thoracostomy, Empyema Thoracis, Parapneumonic Effusion.