Incidence and Risk Factors for Severe Dehydration in Hospitalized Children in Ujjain, India

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Diarrhoea is a major global cause of illness and death in children under five.
• Severe dehydration is a critical complication of childhood diarrhoea requiring urgent medical attention.
• Identifying risk factors is crucial for developing effective preventive strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify independent risk factors associated with severe dehydration in children presenting to a tertiary care hospital.
• To analyze the role of feeding practices, pre-hospital treatment, and living conditions in severe dehydration.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study conducted in Ujjain, India, involving 332 children aged 1 month to 12 years.
• Children with 'some dehydration' or 'dehydration' based on World Health Organization criteria were assessed.
• Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine independent risk factors for severe dehydration.

Main Results:

• 70% of the studied children were diagnosed with severe dehydration.
• Independent risk factors included: not exclusively breastfed in the first six months (AOR 5.67), no prior oral rehydration solution (AOR 1.34), no prior oral zinc (AOR 2.66), and overcrowded living conditions (AOR 5.52).
• Statistical significance (p < 0.001) was observed for exclusive breastfeeding, oral zinc, and living conditions.

Conclusions:

• Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is a critical protective factor against severe dehydration.
• Lack of access to or knowledge about oral rehydration solution and zinc supplementation increases risk.
• Overcrowded living conditions are a significant environmental risk factor, emphasizing the need for socio-environmental interventions.