Profile of patients with pneumonia according to acute respiratory infections (A.R.I. Programme of W.H.O) from 2 to 60 months of age

Objectives: to observe usefulness of ari program in a tertiary care center. patients and methods: a total of 200 patients were included in the study,who presented with cough and respiratory distress in emergency department of children hospital,lahore. study was conducted in months of january and february,2010. inclusion criteria: all patients from 2 months of age to 60 months were included who presented ith cough and respiratory distress. exclusion criteria: patients with congenital diseases. patients who have any other systemic disease,patients who are known cases of hyper-reactive airway disease. all patients included in the study were analyzed according to who a.r.i. program. all the data was recorded in spss program version 10 and different factors were analyzed. results: a total of 200 patients were included in the study. 46.5% (93) were males and 53.5% (107) were females. patients were divided into sub-groups according to ari program. patients from 2-12 months of age were 75.5% (151) and patients from 12-60 months of age were 24.5% (49). following symptoms and signs were observed and documented in all the patients. not able to drink,convulsions,abnormally sleepy or difficult to awake,stridor in calm child,clinically severe malnutrition,chest indrawings,fast breathing (50 /min or more if child is 2 months to 12 months of age,40/minute or more if child from 12 to 60 months of age. conclusion: guidelines/observations of ari program are very important to screen out cases of pneumonia. all the paramedical staff should be given training for it,especially in primary health care areas where trained staff and laboratory back-up is not available.