A study led by The Kids Research Institute Australia in collaboration with the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (PNGIMR) has highlighted the importance of measuring oxygen levels in children with severe pneumonia, rather than solely relying on symptoms and signs.
In Papua New Guinea, pneumonia is the leading cause of illness and death in children under five years with 40 per cent presenting for pneumonia having hypoxia – a condition occurring when oxygen drops to dangerous levels.
The Bill and Melinda Gates and Pfizer-funded study, published recently in The Lancet Regional Health, examined over 2,000 young children with pneumonia – over seven years – to explore whether current methods could adequately predict oxygen levels, detecting the need for oxygen therapy.
Hypoxia was observed in 36 per cent of cases.
Although symptoms like blueish skin, nasal flaring or grunting when breathing, a rapid heart rate or drowsiness were more often seen in children with hypoxia, the study confirmed a combination of symptoms and signs were not accurate enough to detect hypoxia and the need for oxygen therapy.
Lead author Professor Chris Blyth from the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases based at The Kids Research Institute Australia, The University of Western Australia and Perth Children’s Hospital said the research was essential to demonstrate that current approaches detecting the need for oxygen were not adequate, signalling the need to ensure technology to measure oxygen levels is made routinely available in all health care facilities.
“The study showed symptoms and signs of severe pneumonia were alone were not enough to detect the need for oxygen therapy,” Professor Blyth said.
The capacity to measure oxygen levels must remain a priority to ensure children get the right treatment
Professor Willie Pomat, Director of the PNGIMR, said the study was important to call for more investment into health care facilities to prevent pneumonia deaths.
“This study calls for additional investment into healthcare facilities in Papua New Guinea, providing the technology to measure oxygen levels,” Professor Pomat said.
This research will help prevent pneumonia deaths while informing the World Health Organization pneumonia prevention guidelines
Professor Blyth also mentioned the study was testament to The Kids Research Institute Australia’s ongoing relationship with PNGIMR – a relationship that has progressed important medical research across ear health and pneumonia.
The journal article Clinical predictors of hypoxic pneumonia in children from the Eastern Highlands Province Papua New Guinea: a secondary analysis of two prospective observational studies is available here.