Introduction: In India, hospital admission is recommended when a child is being diagnosed as a case of severe pneumonia according to revised WHO 2013 pneumonia definitions. Hospital care should allow for prompt identification of signs of clinical deterioration and timely intervention and at the same time we can explore associated risk factors if any. Identification of risk factors is also very important for enhancing insight into the aetiology and prevention of pneumonia.

Objective: To assess clinical profile of severe pneumonia in children treated in tertiary care hospital in New Delhi by implementation of the revised WHO pneumonia guidelines and associated risk factors in children aged 2 to 59 months

Materials and Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study where 150 patients were enrolled who were diagnosed cases of severe pneumonia in the age group of 2-59 months (fitting into revised WHO classification). Equal number of sex and age index matched healthy children attending immunization clinic were taken as controls.

Results: Fast breathing was present among 146 (97.3%) cases and chest in drawing was observed in 133(88.7%) cases. The association of various socio-demographic and birth-related risk factors (low education level of mother, working status of mother, preterm birth and LBW babies,) history related risk factors (smoking history in parents, history of contact with TB patients, history of partially immunized or unimmunized for age, history of top feeding and malnutrition), environmental factors (overcrowding and poor ventilation in living area) increased the risk of severe pneumonia in children subsequently.

Conclusion: Tachypnoea and chest indrawing were the two most commonly observed signs in

identifying severe pneumonia. Multiple modifiable risk factors for severe pneumonia have been identified in this study to which health care workers should be aware of to reduce mortality to severe pneumonia.

Keywords: LBW, Preterm, malnutrition, severe pneumonia

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Dr Satabdi Pande

Department of Pharmacology, Burdwan Medical College