Poorly Treated Broncho-Pneumonia with Progression to Empyema Thoracis in Nigerian Children

AIM: Poorly treated bronchopneumonia is the most common cause of empyema thoracis in Nigeria. Ignorance poverty and quackery are the major reasons for inadequate treatment. METHOD: All paediatric patients diagnosed and treated for empyema thoracis secondary to poorly treated bronchopneumonia in our hospital between November 2006 and January 2009 had their case notes retrieved, and data collated into individual proforma for analysis. RESULTS: During the 26 months period, there were 2106 admissions into children emergency unit of our hospital, with 267 having bronchopneumonia (12%) and 18 having empyema thoracis (6.7% case prevalence). The age range was 1 month to 16 years with mean of 6.4 years and male: female ratio 3.5: 1. The right pleural space was affected in 50%, left pleural space in 33.33%, and both pleural spaces in 16.66%. Up to 61% of mothers of the patients with empyema thoracis had no or only primary level of formal education, 77.78% of such mothers were not gainfully employed and 44.43% of patients were previously treated by medical charlatans before presentation in our hospital. All patients were successfully treated with antibiotic and tube thoracostomy drainage with satisfactory recovery. CONCLUSION: Empyema thoracis 20 poorly treated bronchopneumonia is still prevalent in Nigeria. Mass literacy campaign, poverty alleviation and provision of affordable and easily accessible medical care throughout the whole country are the immediate solution to this menace. [TAF Prev Med Bull 2010; 9(3): 181-186]