HOSPITAL MORBIDITY DUE TO PNEUMONIA IN CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS IN BRAZIL IN 2024

Pneumonia is the second leading cause of child mortality worldwide. In Brazil, according to the Ministry of Health, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the main cause of pediatric hospitalizations. Despite its severity, there are no recent studies detailing the profile of hospitalizations in this age group. This study aims to describe hospitalizations due to pneumonia in children under five years of age in Brazil in 2024. Ecological, descriptive study based on secondary data from the Hospital Information System of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SIH/SUS). Data collected included hospitalizations due to pneumonia in children under five years, recorded in public hospitals in Brazil in 2024. Variables analyzed were age group (<1 year; 1–4 years), sex (male and female), area of residence (urban/rural), type of admission, average length of stay and mortality. Descriptive analysis of hospitalizations and deaths was performed for each region of the country. In 2024, 173,356 hospitalizations due to pneumonia in children under five years were recorded in Brazil. The mean length of hospital stay was 5.3 days and there were 866 deaths, corresponding to a mortality rate of 0.50%. Disease impact was greater in the 1–4-year age group, which accounted for the largest proportion of hospitalizations. The Southeast region concentrated the largest number of hospitalizations (54,586), with a mortality rate of 0.46%. The Northeast recorded 48,646 hospitalizations (mortality rate 0.50%). The North had 29,272 hospitalizations (mortality rate 0.78%). The South accounted for 25,466 hospitalizations (mortality rate 0.29%), and the Center-West had 15,123 hospitalizations (mortality rate 0.46%). This study corroborates the literature by showing that pneumonia remains a relevant cause of hospital morbidity in children under five years in Brazil, with a predominance of cases among those aged 1–4 years. The Southeast region concentrated the largest number of hospitalizations but had a lower mortality rate. Regional variations reflect different socioeconomic contexts and access to health care. These findings reinforce the importance of public policies that expand access to prevention and timely treatment, taking into account regional challenges and specificities, including in large urban centers.