The Changing Picture of Pneumonia and Empyema in Infants and Children

Data from an institution for children for the period 1934 to 1958 have been examined for evidence of changes in the course of pneumonias. During this time there were 10,632 cases of pneumonia and 214 of empyema. The hospitalization rate for pneumonia dropped from 49 to 18%. The incidence of empyema in the hospitalized patients dropped from 10 to 2% but returned to 14% with the rise of staphylococcal infections. There have not been any cases of empyema due toHemophilus influenzaesince 1944 nor any due to streptococci since 1948; there have been only 5 cases due to pneumococci since 1947. In the period 1955-1958 there were 35 cases due to staphylococci. The sharp rise in the incidence of empyema due to staphylococci has been largely confined to infants.