Intensive care of acute respiratory syndrome in a child with community-acquired pneumonia (clinical case)

PRACTICAL NOTES

Keywords:
pneumonia respiratory failure intensive care respiratory support antibiotic therapy clinical case pediatrics children пневмония дыхательная недостаточность интенсивная терапия респираторная поддержка антибиотикотерапия клинический случай педиатрия дети

Abstract

Severe pneumonia is an urgent problem in pediatrics, since it is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children under 5 years old, mortality can reach 14%. The article discusses a clinical case of severe community-acquired pneumonia in a child, complicated by grade III respiratory failure. The child was hospitalized in an infectious diseases hospital on the 8th day of the disease. However, despite the therapy, due to the deterioration of the condition and progression of the respiratory failure clinic on the third day after hospitalization, the child was transferred to the intensive care unit. Acute respiratory distress syndrome developed, requiring invasive ventilation and therapy adjustment. The key aspects of intensive care aimed at stabilizing the patient’s condition are described, including respiratory support, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, infusion therapy, immunomodulatory drugs and pulse therapy with glucocorticosteroids. Exogenous surfactant was also used, which contributed to the improvement of gas exchange and reduction of artificial ventilation parameters. Complex therapy was carried out in accordance with modern international recommendations for the treatment of severe pneumonia complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome in children. The presented clinical case demonstrates the critical importance of timely and adequate therapy, as well as a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of severe pneumonia in children.

Author Biographies

Gulshat N. Alimkhanova, Scientifi c Center of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery

Cand. Sci. (Med.), Head of the Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit, Scientific Center of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surger; Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Kazakh Research Medical University named after S.D. Asfenidyarov

Akerke B. Ibraimova, Scientifi c Center of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery

Master of Public Health, Head of the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care for Older Children

Assel K. Tulebayeva, Scientifi c Center of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery; S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University

PhD, Associated Professor, Children Diseases Department named after N. A. Barlybayeva

Nurmukhanbet Bokenuly, Atyrau Regional Infectious Diseases Hospital

pediatric anesthesiologist-resuscitator of the intensive care unit.

References

1. Killien E.Y., Keller M.R., Watson R.S., Hartman M.E. Epidemiology of intensive care admissions for children in the US From 2001 to 2019. JAMA Pediatr. 2023;177(5):506–515. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.0184

2. Friedman M.L., Nitu M.E. Acute Respiratory Failure in Children. Pediatr Ann. 2018;47(7):e268–e273. https://doi.org/10.3928/19382359-20180625-01.

3. Panetti B., Bucci I., Di Ludovico A., et al. Acute respiratory failure in children: a clinical update on diagnosis. Children (Basel). 2024;11(10):1232. https://doi.org/10.3390/children11101232.

4. Александрович Ю.С., Пшениснов К.В., Колодяжная В.И. Острый респираторный дистресс-синдром в педиатрической практике: диагностика и интенсивная терапия. Обзор литературы. Российский вестник детской хирургии, анестезиологии и реаниматологии. 2024;14(1):83–95. https://doi.org/10.17816/psaic1569.

5. Пшениснов К.В., Александрович Ю.С., Фелькер Е.Ю., Дмитриева Е.М., Мешков А.В., Разгон М.В. и др. Особенности искусственной вентиляции легких при остром респираторном дистресс-синдроме, осложнившемся бронхопульмональным свищом (клиническое наблюдение). Вестник анестезиологии и реаниматологии. 2025;22(1):120–128. https://doi.org/10.24884/2078-5658-2025-22-1-120-128.

6. Pediatric Acute Lung Injury Consensus Conference Group. Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome: consensus recommendations from the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury Consensus Conference. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2015;16(5):428–439. https://doi.org/10.1097/PCC.0000000000000350.

7. López-Fernández Y., Azagra A.M., de la Oliva P. et al. Pediatric acute lung injury epidemiology and natural history study: Incidence and outcome of the acute respiratory distress syndrome in children. Crit Care Med. 2012;40(12):3238–3245. https://doi.org/10.1097/CCM.0b013e318260caa3.

8. López-Fernández Y.M., Smith L.S., Kohne J.G. et al. Prognostic relevance and inter-observer reliability of chest-imaging in pediatric ARDS: A pediatric acute respiratory distress incidence and epidemiology (PARDIE) study. Intensive Care Med. 2020;46(7):1382–1393. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-020-06074-7.

9. Schneider N., Johnson M. Management of paediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome. BJA Educ. 2022;22(9):364–370. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjae.2022.04.004.

10. Pujari C.G., Lalitha A.V., Raj J.M., Kavilapurapu A. Epidemiology of acute respiratory distress syndrome in pediatric intensive care unit: Single-center experience. Indian J Crit Care Med. 2022;26(8):949–955. https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10071-24285.

11. Yu Huang, Yi Chen, Min Liu, Lan-Fang Tang, Lan-Fang Tang. Comparative analysis of Chlamydia pneumoniae pneumonia (CPP) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children and risk factors of severe CPP. BMC Infect Dis. 2025;25(1):993. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11405-4.

12. Pain C.E., Felsenstein S., Cleary G., Mayell S., Conrad K., Harave S. et al. Novel paediatric presentation of COVID-19 with ARDS and cytokine storm syndrome without respiratory symptoms. Lancet Rheumatol. 2020;2(7):e376–e379. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2665-9913(20)30137-5.

13. Woodruff R.C., Campbell A.P., Taylor C.A., Chai S.J., Kawasaki B., Meek J. et al. Risk factors for severe COVID-19 in children. Pediatrics. 2022;149(1):e2021053418. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-053418.

14. Di Filippo P., Attanasi M., Dodi G., Porreca A., Raso M., Di Pillo S., Chiarelli F. Evaluation of sleep quality and anxiety in Italian pediatric healthcare workers during the first wave of COVID-19 Pandemic. BMC Res. Notes. 2021;14(1);219. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-021- 05621-9.

15. Qing Qing, Ping Zha, Li-Ying Dai, Yang Wang.. Effect of different ventilation methods combined with pulmonary surfactant on neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome. World J Clini Cases. 2023;11(25):5878–5886. https://doi.org/10.12998/wjcc.v11.i25.5878.

16. Duffett M, Choong K, Ng V, Randolph A, Cook DJ. Surfactant therapy for acute respiratory failure in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Crit Care. 2007;11(3):R66. https://doi.org/10.1186/cc5944.

17. Горелов А.В., Авдеев С.Н., Эсауленко Е В. и др.; Национальная ассоциация специалистов по инфекционным болезням имени академика В.И. Покровского и др. Вирусные пневмонии: эпидемиология, диагностика, терапия, профилактика. М.: Медиа Сфера; 2024. С. 118–143.

18. Wong J.J.M., Lee S.W., Tan H.L., Ma Y.J., Sultana R., Mok Y.H., Lee J.H. Lung-Protective Mechanical Ventilation Strategies in Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2020;21(8):720–728. https://doi.org/10.1097/PCC.0000000000002324.

19. Schneider N., Johnson M. Management of paediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome. BJA Educ. 2022;22(9):364–370. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjae.2022.04.004.

20. Ren X., Jiang Q., Wang L., Yuan X., Chen D., Xu G.. Safety and efficacy of pulmonary surfactant therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Pulm Med. 2025;25(1):1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-025-03728-4.

21. Geropeppa M., Tsagkli P., Papadatou I., Efthymiou V., Tagarro A., Galanakis E., Spoulou V. Systemic Corticosteroids in Children With Pneumonia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1097/INF.0000000000005106.

22. Муравьев А.А., Бекезин В.В., Козлова Л.В. Пневмококковая инфекция у детей: пути решения глобальной проблемы. Вестник Смоленской государственной медицинской академии. 2023;22(3):133–140. https://doi.org/10.37903/vsgma.2023.3.18.

23. Chen L., Qi X., Li R., Wang X., Shi B., Meng Q. Injection of immunoglobulin in the treatment process of children with severe pneumonia. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(4):940–944. https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.

24. De Luca D., Cogo P., Kneyber M.C., Biban P., Semple M.G., Perez-Gil J., Conti G., Tissieres P., Rimensberger P.C. Surfactant therapies for pediatric and neonatal ARDS: ESPNIC expert consensus opinion for future research steps. Crit Care. 2021;25(1):75. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-021-03489-6.

25. Cattel F., Giordano S., Bertiond C., Lupia T., Corcione S., Scaldaferri M., Angelone L., De Rosa F.G. Use of exogenous pulmonary surfactant in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): Role in SARS-Co V-2-related lung injury. Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2021;288:103645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resp.2021.103645.