Comparison of Respiratory Rate in Children having Pneumonia with and without Rickets

Objective: To compare the duration for stabilization of respiratory rate in children having pneumonia with and without rickets. Methods: This case control study was conducted at Department of Paediatrics Dow University of Health Sciences and Civil Hospital Karachi, Pakistan, from January to August 2016. In this study 100 diagnosed cases of pneumonia with age group of >2 months to 60 months were divided into two equal groups as cases and control. Those children with pneumonia who had any clinical sign of rickets had an X-ray wrist and serum levels of alkaline phosphatase done to confirm the diagnosis of rickets. Children who were confirmed to have rickets along with pneumonia were recruited as "cases" while "controls" had pneumonia but without rickets. Patients were followed as per Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses (IMNCI) guidelines and respiratory rate was noted daily along with other features of pneumonia until it returned to normal for age as per guidelines. Results: The total of hundred patients was divided into two equal groups as cases and controls. Out of 100 patients 59% were male and 41% were female. Over all mean ± SD for stabilization of fast breathing was 4.38 ± 2.39 days and highly significant difference was found in stabilization of respiratory rate between cases and controls, p<0.0001). Mean ± SD of the weight was 7.31 ± 3.46 kg. Most of the patients 47% were in the age group of 2-12 months of age. Conclusion: Patients having pneumonia with concomitant rickets takes significantly longer to revert to their normal respiratory rate as compared to those with pneumonia but no rickets.