Serum procalcitonin as a predictor of severity of pneumonia in under-five children: A prospective observational study

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the included children, n (%)/mean ± SD

Characteristics	All patients (n = 200)	Bacterial (n = 39)	Viral (n = 15)	Atypical (n = 7)	P value
Age (months)	11.4 ± 8.8	28.4 ± 7.2	9.7 ± 5.6	35.2 ± 6.9	0.03
Age sub-groups
≤ 6 months	96 (48)	8 (20.5)	9 (60)	0 (0)	0.021
From 6 months to 1 year	43 (21.5)	14 (35.9)	4 (26.7)	0 (0)	0.58
> 1-5 year	61 (31.5)	17 (43.6)	2 (13.3)	7 (100)	0.042
Male	128 (64)	26 (66.7)	9 (60)	5 (71.4)	0.65
Duration of symptoms prior to admission (days)	2.5 ± 0.8	2.3 ± 0.7	3.1 ± 0.4	3.2 ± 0.1	0.92
Not immunized	31 (15.5)	7 (17.9)	3 (20)	2 (28.6)	0.34
Severe malnutrition	19 (9.5)	8 (20.5)	2 (13.3)	2 (28.6)	0.27
Clinical features
Fever	192 (96)	37 (94.8)	14 (93.3)	6 (85.7)	0.43
Cough	176 (88)	32 (82)	15 (100)	6 (85.7)	0.47
Rapid breathing	200 (100)	39 (100)	15 (100)	7 (100)	0.92
Chest retractions	200 (100)	39 (100)	15 (100)	7 (100)	-
Any danger sign1	159 (79.5)	34 (87.2)	13 (86.7)	5 (71.4)	-
Prior antibiotic use	109 (54.5)	24 (61.5)	8 (53.3)	4 (57.1)	0.69

¹Danger signs: (1) Lethargy or unconsciousness; (2) Convulsions; (3) Unable to feed or drink; (4) Stridor in a calm child; (5) Hypothermia; and (6) Cyanosis.

P < 0.05 has statistical significance.