Underlying diseases of recurrent pneumonia in Turkish children

Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine the relative frequency of recurrent pneumonia in children and to describe its underlying illnesses. Materials and methods: Children between 3 months and 16 years old who had a history of 2 or more episodes of pneumonia per year, or 3 or more episodes in a lifetime were investigated retrospectively at Doctor Sami Ulus Children’sTraining and Research Hospital between January 2002 and December 2004. Results: Out of 595 children admitted for pneumonia, 62 (10.42%) met the criteria for recurrent pneumonia. Anunderlying illness was demonstrated in 56 patients (90.32%). In this study, the underlying illness was diagnosed during recurrence in all patients. The patients with persistent pneumonia were excluded from the study. Underlying diseases werebronchial asthma (30.64%), immune deficiency disorders (17.75%), aspiration syndromes (17.75%), and congenitalanomalies (16.12%). No predisposing illness could be demonstrated in 6 patients (9.68%). Conclusion: Approximately 1 in 10 children with pneumonia in our hospital had recurrent pneumonia. Most of these children had an underlying illness, which was demonstrated. Bronchial asthma was the most common underlying illnesses for undiagnosed recurrent pneumonia in children.