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Burden And Spectrum Of Respiratory Ailments In Paediatric Tertiary Care Setting
Saima Bibi1, Syed Yasir Hussain Gilani2, Tahir Saeed Siddiqui3
1Department of Paediatrics, Ayub Medical Teaching Institute, Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Insights
Respiratory tract infections are a major health threat for children, particularly under two years old. Improving vaccination rates is crucial to reduce the incidence of these common childhood illnesses.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are a leading cause of child mortality and morbidity globally, especially in underdeveloped regions.
- Assessing the local burden and types of pediatric respiratory illnesses is critical for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prevalence and spectrum of respiratory illnesses in pediatric patients requiring hospital admission.
- To identify the primary respiratory conditions contributing to pediatric morbidity and mortality in the study region.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital's Pediatric A unit.
- Data were collected over six months (October 2018 - March 2019) for admitted patients aged 1 month and above with respiratory ailments.
Main Results:
- Out of 2255 admissions, 603 (26.74%) had respiratory problems. Bronchopneumonia (31.3%) and bronchiolitis (29.2%) were the most common diagnoses.
- The majority of affected children (79.9%) were under 24 months of age. Bronchopneumonia was the leading cause of mortality.
- Vaccination status varied, with 51.07% of patients being unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric RTIs pose a significant health risk, particularly in infants and toddlers.
- Enhanced vaccination coverage is essential for mitigating the burden of numerous respiratory diseases.
- Public health initiatives including health education are vital alongside vaccination for controlling pediatric respiratory illnesses.
Background:
Respiratory tract infections are a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in paediatric age group all over the world and especially in under developed regions. The present study was conducted with an aim to assess the burden and the types of respiratory illnesses in our region.
Methods:
The study was a cross sectional study conducted at Paediatric A unit of Ayub teaching hospital from 1st October, 2018 to 31st March, 2019. All patients aged 1 month and above who required admission for various respiratory ailments were included in the study.
Results:
A total of 2255 patients were admitted in Paediatric A unit over a six months period. Of these, 603 (26.74%) patients were admitted with various respiratory problems and were included in the study. Among these, 389 (64.5%) patients were male and 214 (35.5%) were female. Mean age of the participants was 18.77±30.87 months. The major disease categories were bronchopneumonia in 189 (31.3%), bronchiolitis in 176 (29.2%), measles pneumonia in 60 (10%), lobar pneumonia in 52 (8.6%) and upper RTI in 32 (5.3%). Mean duration of stay was 3.13±2.08 days. Majority of the patients 482 (79.9%) were up to 24 months of age, followed by 77 (12.8%) patients in 25-60 months age and 44 (7.3%) patients more than 60 months of age. A total 295 (48.92%) patients were vaccinated while 308 (51.07%) patients were either partially vaccinated 116 (19.2%) or unvaccinated 192 (31.8%). A total of 576 (95.5%) patients were discharged, 17 (2.8%) patients expired and 5 (0.8%) were referred to higher specialty. Bronchopneumonia was the leading cause of mortality in this study.
Conclusions:
Respiratory tract infections constitute a major threat to the health of paediatric patients especially in the first two years of life. Improvement in vaccination coverage is essential in reducing the burden of a majority of respiratory ailments along with health education.
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