Improving treatment of pneumonia in children using lung ultrasound

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

The ToolCAP initiative aims to enhance the management of pediatric community-acquired pneumonia by utilizing lung ultrasound to assess lung infections in children. This approach seeks to determine whether ultrasound can help doctors make better decisions regarding antibiotic prescriptions, as many children with lung infections do not require antibiotics. The study will involve children presenting with symptoms of lung infections, and it will compare the outcomes of those receiving standard care versus those assessed with ultrasound. The goal is to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and improve treatment outcomes.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Cough OR Difficulty Breathing AND,
* One of the below:

Fast breathing (tachypnoea) \> 50/minute (2-12 months) \> 40/minute (1-\<5 years) \> 25/minute (5-12 years) OR Lower chest wall indrawing

Exclusion Criteria:

* Presenting for repeat visit/follow-up of a treated lower respiratory tract infection (index illness / non-acute) or enrolled in the study within the preceding 28 days.
* Received antibiotic treatment for more than 48 hours at the time of enrolment.
* WHO IMCI danger signs (inability to drink/breastfeed, vomiting everything, convulsions with this illness, lethargy/unconscious).
* Presence of jaundice.
* Hypoxaemia with oxygen saturation (SpO2) \<88%
* Oxygen saturation (SpO2) \<90% (or country-specific / altitude-adjusted thresholds) i) With signs of severe respiratory distress (such as nasal flaring, grunting, etc.) OR ii) In children \< 6 months
* Requiring non-invasive ventilatory support (i.e., high-flow, bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP))
* Underlying disease associated with increased risk of severe pneumonia or pneumonia of unusual aetiology (e.g., WHO acute malnutrition requiring antibiotics as per local guidelines, severe immunodeficiency)
* HIV positive participant that is either i) less than 12 months old; OR ii) requires admission for this illness; OR iii) known to be uncontrolled on treatment (with a documented VL \>1000c/ml in the previous 6 months)
* Caregiver unavailable at the time of enrolment, or unwilling, to provide informed consent.

Where it's running

• Université Cheikh Anta Diop
  Dakar, Dakar, Senegal Recruiting
• Centre National Hospitalier d'Enfants Albert Royer
  Dakar, Senegal Recruiting
• Centre De Santé Gaspard Kamara
  Dakar, Senegal Recruiting
• Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University
  Parow, Cape Town, South Africa Recruiting
• University of Witwatersrand, MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit
  Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa Recruiting
• Tintswalo Hospital
  Acornhoek, Mpumalanga, South Africa Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Kristina Keitel, MD, PhD
• Email: Kristina.Keitel@epfl.ch
• Phone: +41763432520

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Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.