A study on the reported cases of pneumonia at the Veteran\u27s Memorial Medical Center from January-December 1994

A survey of pneumonia cases admitted from January to December 1994 at Veterans Memorial Medical Center was conducted. Out of a total of 882 patient admitted with various diagnoses, 384 (43.65%) were found to be suffering from pneumonia. Overall, there were more males, 233 (60.68%) compared to females, 151. In terms of age distribution, the 70 years and older group had the most number of pneumonia cases with 222 (57.81%). In contrast, the 10 to 14 and 35 to 39 age groups had the least number of pneumonia cases with 1 each. Since VMMC is located in an urban area, it is expected that the urban area had the most number of cases with 348. Most patients were from the National Capital Region (256). The rural area only accounted for 36 cases with Region 7, 9 and 12 accounting for 1 each while Regions 8, 10 and 11 did not register any case of pneumonia. In terms of the signs and symptoms, fever and cough were the most frequent with 365. On the other hand chest pain was the complaint of 15 patients while blood found in phlegm (hemoptysis) was seen in 4 cases. 380 patients diagnosed with pneumonia were discharged in improved condition while four people died in the hospital. A 2nd generation cephalosporin, whether oral or parenteral, was the most commonly used medicine against pneumonia with 265 instances. A combination of macrolide and coamoxiclav was used in 19 patients. 97% of all patients with pneumonia were community-acquired while 3% were hospital-acquired