Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice
04:18

Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice

Published on: October 10, 2025

Morbidity among infants in South India: a longitudinal study

Nitin Joseph1, S H Subba, Vijaya A Naik

  • 1Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Light House Hill Road, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.

Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|February 9, 2010
PubMed

Insights

This study tracked infant morbidity in India, finding respiratory infections, diarrhea, and skin diseases to be most common. Health programs need improvement to reduce infant illness incidence.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Infant morbidity presents a significant public health challenge globally.
  • Understanding disease patterns in the first year of life is crucial for targeted interventions.
  • Limited data exists on the specific incidence and types of morbidity in Indian birth cohorts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence and types of morbidity during the first year of life.
  • To identify common diseases affecting infants in a specific region of India.
  • To provide data for improving child health programs.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal birth cohort study was conducted in northern Karnataka, India.
  • 194 newborns were enrolled and followed monthly until one year of age.
  • Data collected included birth weight, gestational age, congenital anomalies, birth asphyxia, and subsequent morbidities.

Main Results:

  • The overall incidence of morbidity was 3.28 per infant per year.
  • Common neonatal morbidities included diarrhea (10.8%) and skin diseases (8.2%).
  • During infancy, respiratory tract infections (62.4%), diarrhea (42.8%), and skin diseases (21.6%) were most prevalent, with higher incidence in boys and later infancy.

Conclusions:

  • Infant morbidity, particularly respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases, is a significant concern in this Indian cohort.
  • The findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced child health programs and preventive strategies.
  • Addressing factors contributing to infant morbidity is essential for improving child survival and well-being.

More Related Videos

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels05:31

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels

Published on: August 7, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
Prevalence and Incidence01:08

Prevalence and Incidence

In statistical epidemiology and health sciences, two essential metrics—prevalence and incidence—are fundamental for understanding disease dynamics within a population. These measures enable public health officials, epidemiologists, and researchers to assess the burden of diseases, allocate resources effectively, and design impactful public health policies and interventions.
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health condition at a...
Bias in Epidemiological Studies01:29

Bias in Epidemiological Studies

Biases can arise at various stages of research, from study design and data collection to analysis and interpretation. Recognizing and addressing these biases is essential to ensure the validity and reliability of epidemiological findings.Broadly speaking, biases in epidemiology fall into three main categories: selection bias, information bias, and confounding. A more detailed description of possible biases is:
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...