Predictive risk factors for complicated pneumonia in Malaysian children.

Aim: To investigate baseline characteristics associated with complicated community-acquired pneumonia (CAPc) in Malaysian children. CAPc, such as pleural effusion and/or empyema, is on the rise, especially in Southeast Asian children, and the reasons for this are unknown.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on all children aged 2-16 years who were admitted to the University Malaya Medical Centre with community-acquired pneumonia between 2012 and 2014.