Higher childhood pneumonia admission threshold remains in Lao PDR: an observational study

摘要

Objectives WHO Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) guidelines changed pneumonia hospitalisation criteria in 2014, which was implemented in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) in 2015. We determined adherence to: current (2014) IMCI guidelines for children presenting to hospitals with pneumonia, current outpatient management guidelines and identified hospitalisation predictors. Design Prospective observational study (January 2017 to December 2018). Setting Outpatient and emergency departments of four hospitals in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Patients 594 children aged 2-59 months diagnosed with pneumonia. Main outcome measures Number of children diagnosed, hospitalised, managed, administered preventive measures and followed-up accordant with current guidelines.