Patterns of respiratory tract infections in children under 5 years of age in a low–middle-income country

Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association

卷:97

Research

Mortada H. El-Shabrawi¹  Nora E. Badawi¹  Basant A. Abd El-alim¹  Nehal M. El-Koofy¹  Marwa M. Zein² 

[1] Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt;

[2] Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt;

关键词: Upper respiratory tract infections;    Lower respiratory tract infections;    Pneumonia;    malnutrition;    Crowding index;    Children below 5 years;    Breast feeding;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s42506-022-00118-0

 received in 2021-04-23, accepted in 2022-09-22,  发布年份 2022

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundRespiratory tract infections (RTIs) are among the most commonly encountered major public health problems, with a higher prevalence of lower RTIs among children and more generally the poor. The present study aimed to describe the pattern of respiratory tract infections in Egyptian children aged under 5 years and explore possible associations between socio-demographics and nutritional status and types of RTIs.MethodsOver 6 months beginning in September 2018 (including one winter season), a cross-sectional, observational, epidemiological study was conducted on a sample of patients with upper and lower RTIs diagnosed clinically and/or radiologically in the outpatient clinics at Cairo University Children’s Hospital in Egypt. An interview questionnaire was employed to collect socio-demographic and nutritional data. Heights/lengths and weights were measured and analyzed using the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Anthro Plus [Computer Program]. Patients with pneumonia (n = 28) were compared to 97 healthy children of the same age and sex.ResultsThe total number of children diagnosed with upper and lower respiratory infections was 611. Malnutrition was present in 12.4% of all children with upper and lower RTIs. Lower RTI and malnutrition were substantially more prevalent among children aged under 2 years (p = 0.048 and p < 0.001, respectively). The strongest predictor of lower RTI was a younger age (OR 0.797, CI 0.713–0.89, p < 0.001).ConclusionAt our center, approximately one-third of infections in under-fives were lower RTI. Malnutrition was one of the significant risk factors for lower RTI in children below 2 years. The nutritional status of infants and young children should be improved by encouraging exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life and strengthening the healthcare and nutritional counseling available for vulnerable children, particularly in rural regions.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2022