Prevalence of pneumonia and associated complications in children in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria: a five-year review (2020-2024)

Pneumonia is a leading cause of mortality among children globally, accounting for 18% of deaths in those under five years. This retrospective study assessed the prevalence and complications of pneumonia among 771 pediatric patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in South-South Nigeria. Pneumonia was diagnosed in 273 children (35.4%), with infants aged $\le1$ year being most affected (52.1%). Among those with pneumonia, 26.0% developed complications, with congestive cardiac failure being the most frequent (39.4%), followed by pleural effusion (23.9%) and sepsis (18.3%). The findings underscore the importance of early diagnosis and management to reduce morbidity and mortality.