Pattern and outcome of paediatric pleural effusion seen at Usmanu Dafodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto: A 5-year retrospective study

Abstract

Background: Pleural effusion is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity which present with spectrum of clinico-aetiological manifestations often requiring multidisciplinary approach.

Objectives: This study set out to determine the prevalence, aetiology, clinical presentation, treatment modalities and outcome of pleural effusion in children.

Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study where records of children with diagnosis of pleural effusion admitted at UDUTH, Sokoto were obtained between January 2017 and December 2022 and reviewed. Diagnosis was based on clinical presentation and radiological confirmation of pleural effusion. Data was analyzed with SPSS version 20.0.

Results: A total of 49 cases were retrieved. The prevalence of pleural effusion was 0.54% (9,056). It was more prevalent in males with ratio of 2.5:1 (χ² = 9.833, P = 0.007). The median age was 9 years (IQR 7). The most common cause of pleural effusion was pneumonia 26 (53.1%) followed by tuberculosis 16 (32.6%), malignancy 3 (6.1%), cardiac and renal causes accounted for 2 (4.1%) each. Cough (100.0%), difficulty in breathing (100.0%), tachypnea (100.0%), respiratory distress (100.0%), and desaturation (98.0%) were the common presentations. Most (77.5%) of them presented with right sided pleural effusion. The majority (93.9%) had closed thoracostomy tube drainage. The outcome showed majority (83.7%) of the cases been discharged, with a median duration of hospital stay of 22days (IQR 17). However, mortality rate for the malignant causes was 100.0%.

Conclusion: Infections were the major cause of paediatric pleural effusion with relatively good outcome. Surgical intervention and multidisciplinary team approach are needed to reduce the morbidity and mortality in patients with pleural effusion especially for the malignant causes.