Evaluation of Cardiac Functions in Children with Lower Respiratory Tract Infections | ||||
| Zagazig University Medical Journal | ||||
| Article 16, Volume 31, Issue 6, June 2025, Page 2346-2360 PDF (1.06 MB) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/zumj.2025.375724.3908 | ||||
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| Authors | ||||
Khaled Mohamed Salah1; Dina Tawfeek Sarhan1; Hanan Samir Ahmed2; Asmaa Mohamed Mohamed Mohamed  3; Marwa Lotfy Mohammed Rashad4
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| 1Professor of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt | ||||
| 2Professor of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt | ||||
| 3MBBCH, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt. | ||||
| 4Lecturer of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Background: Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are among the major causes of morbidity and mortality in children under five years. This study aimed to assess myocardial involvement in pediatric LRTI cases by evaluating cardiac functions using echocardiography and measuring high-sensitive cardiac troponin T levels. Methods: This case-control study included 52 children aged 2 months to 5 years. The patient group (n=39) had confirmed LRTIs and was subdivided into 3 groups (n=13 in each): pneumonia (Group I), bronchiolitis (Group II), and pleural effusion (Group III). Group IV included 13 age- and sex-matched healthy children serving as controls. All were tested for hs-Troponin T and C reactive protein, with detailed echocardiographic evaluation of both left and right ventricular functions. Results: Children with LRTIs had significantly elevated high-sensitive troponin T and CRP levels. Echocardiography revealed reduced left ventricular ejection fraction in bronchiolitis and pleural effusion groups (p < 0.001), but with preserver systolic functions. LV diastolic dysfunction affected by decreased A-wave velocity (p < 0.001). TDI of mitral valve showed significant rise of S` and significant decline regarding E/e` among the cases compared to the control (p < 0.001). while TDI of tricuspid valve revealed significant decline regarding S` among the cases compared to the control (p < 0.001). Conclusion: LRTIs in young children are associated with subclinical and overt cardiac involvement, affecting both ventricles. Echocardiographic assessment and cardiac biomarkers, especially high-sensitive troponin, can provide valuable insights for early detection of potential cardiac complications in this population. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Children; Lower Respiratory Tract Infections; Serum Troponin; Cardiac affection; echocardiographic changes | ||||
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