Clinical characteristics of severe pneumonia in children and the significance of neutrophil elastase detection

CHEN Hui; ZHANG Zhen-xing; LU Chao

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2014.04.017

Abstract：Objective To study the clinical characteristics of severe pneumonia in children , to explore the significance of neutrophil elastase detection. Methods Patients were divided to severe pneumonia group and non-severe pneumonia group Fever, cough, lung wet rale duration and image changes were statistically analyzed. The percentage of abnormal lymphocyte in peripheral blood was counted by Wright's dyeing method. The neutrophil elastase expression in peripheral blood was determinated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent analysis. Results In severe pneumonia group,atelectasis occurred in 5 cases,8 cases complicated with heart failure, 8 cases complicated with respiratory failure and 4 cases were complicated with toxic encephalopathy. In severe pneumonia group , fever time was 13.5±5.1 days, cough time was 15.1±3.2 days, the time of lung wet rale duration was 12.2±2.3 days, which were significantly longer than that of non-severe pneumonia group (t = 2.346,2.457,2.346,P < 0.05);In severe pneumonia group , pathogens included streptococcus pneumoniae , respiratory syncytial virus and adenovirus , etc.In severe pneumonia group,the percentage of abnormal lymphocyte in peripheral blood smear increased with virus infection (8.1±1.2)%. In 12 cases of severe pneumonia,the expressions of neutrophil elastase were 127.6± 12.5 ng/ml, more than that of non-severe pneumonia group (75.4 ± 6.4 ng/ml,t=3.047, P<0.05). Conclusion Severe pneumonia is a serious diseases impacting children health. Detection of neutrophil elastase shows a markedly clinical value to judge the severity of pneumonia.