Adding fever to WHO criteria for diagnosing pneumonia enhances the ability to identify pneumonia cases among wheezing children

• DOI: 10.1136/adc.2010.189894
• Publication Date: 2010-09-25T00:18:10Z
• Authors: M.-R. A. Cardoso; C. M. Nascimento-...; F. Ferrero; F. M. Alves; S. N. Cousens
• Keywords: Male; Fever; Age Factors; Infant; Pneumonia; World Health Organization; Sensitivity and Specificity; 3. Good health; Diagnosis, Differential; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Child, Preschool; Acute Disease; Bronchiolitis; Humans; Female; Prospective Studies; Bronchitis; Respiratory Sounds

<h3>Objective</h3> To examine the ability of criteria proposed by WHO to identify pneumonia among cases presenting with wheezing and extent which adding fever alters their performance. <h3>Design</h3> Prospective classification 390 children aged 2–59 months lower respiratory tract disease into five diagnostic categories, including pneumonia. for identification a set such modified were compared radiographically diagnosed as gold standard. <h3>Results</h3> The sensitivity was 94% &lt;24 62% those ≥24 months. corresponding specificities 20% 16%. Adding improved specificity substantially (to 44% 50%, respectively). poor (12%). this 42%). addition apparently reduced only marginally 92% 57%, respectively, in two age groups). <h3>Conclusion</h3> authors9 results reaffirm that current can detect high sensitivity, particularly younger children. They present evidence these distinguish between diseases might be greatly enhanced fever.