Thrombocytosis in Under-Five Children with Lower Respiratory Tract Infection

Thrombocytosis is a marker of inflammatory reaction with various clinical outcomes. The current study aimed at evaluating the incidence and significance of degree of thrombocytosis in relation to severity of the pneumonia in children less than 5 years old with lower respiratory tract infection.
The current prospective observational study was conducted over a period of 12 months on 230 children aged 2 to 60 months, hospitalized for lower respiratory tract infection. Patients were classified into 2 groups of patients with or without thrombocytosis. Demographic profile, clinical severity, radiological findings, complications and outcomes of the 2 groups were analyzed and compared.
Out of 230 children, 122 (53.04%) had thrombocytosis and 108 (46.96%) not had thrombocytosis. Among children with thrombocytosis, 12 (9.83%) had pneumonia, 48 (39.34%) had severe pneumonia, and 62 (50.8%) had very severe pneumonia. Out of 108 children without thrombocytosis, 58 (53.7%) had pneumonia, 16 (14.8%) had severe pneumonia, and 34 (31.4%) had very severe pneumonia. Thrombocytosis was found in 82% of pneumonia cases with pleural effusion. Prolonged hospitalization was significantly associated with thrombocytosis. Leukocytosis had also significant association with pneumonia severity.
The current study indicated that children with lower respiratory tract infection frequently had associated thrombocytosis. The duration of hospital stay and severity of pneumonia were clearly higher in the group with high thrombocyte count. Thrombocyte count can be used as a predictor for the severity of the disease in children less than 5 year old with pneumonia to prioritize them.