Oxygen therapy for children with acute respiratory infections in small hospitals

Oxygen administration is one of the most important modalities of therapy fo r a patient with hypoxaemia to prevent death and disability from common con ditions such as acute lower respiratory tract infections. Oxygen needs to b e available at all times in hospitals, however, it is tod expensive for man y developing countries. There is little information for health professional s regarding indications for initiating oxygen therapy, selecting appropriat e method of oxygen administration and deciding on the source for oxygen. A review of the literature using medline citations and cross references from published articles and other manuscripts was made. The review described the two main sources of oxygen for small hospital-cylinders and oxygen concent rators and their advantages and disadvantages. It also look-ed at the evide nces for clinical indications to initiate and discontinue oxygen therapy. S tudies on efficient and safe methods of administration of oxygen were revie wed as well. The review concluded that oxygen may be administered in childr en with cyanosis, chest indrawing, inability to drink or breastfeed, tachyp nea with-respiratory rate above 70/minute or in a child who develops restle ssness and improves on oxygen. The initial capital cost-of concentrators is high but the running cost is low and it does not re(require transport whil e oxygen cylinders are expensive to transport and need continuous refilling . The safest method of oxygen administration are the prongs followed by the nasal catheters.