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Prevalence and Outpatient Clinical Diagnostic Approaches for Common Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Children
Munanura Turyasiima1,2, Gloria Kiconco1,3, Walufu Ivan Egesa4
1Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda.
Insights
Acute respiratory tract infections are common in young children, affecting over a third of those studied. Simple clinical exams can accurately diagnose these infections in primary care, improving child health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) are a major cause of child illness and death globally.
- Misdiagnosis of ARTIs in primary care leads to treatment delays and increased mortality.
- Accurate diagnosis is crucial, especially in remote settings with limited resources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of common ARTIs in children aged 2-59 months in western Uganda.
- To describe simple diagnostic techniques for ARTIs applicable in primary healthcare settings.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a pediatric outpatient clinic in western Uganda.
- 896 children aged 2-59 months were consecutively enrolled and examined.
- Data on sociodemographics and clinical presentation were collected using a validated checklist.
Main Results:
- The overall prevalence of ARTIs was 36.9%.
- Upper respiratory tract infections (24.8%) were more common than lower respiratory tract infections.
- Common cold (52%) and pneumonia (26%) were the most frequent upper and lower respiratory infections, respectively.
Conclusions:
- ARTIs represent a significant disease burden in pediatric clinics.
- Simple, affordable clinical examination techniques can accurately diagnose ARTIs in resource-limited settings.
- Effective diagnosis improves patient outcomes and reduces mortality.
Background:
Acute respiratory tract infections are among the leading causes of child morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although the diagnosis of acute respiratory tract infections requires simple outpatient medical techniques and care, it is still misdiagnosed among primary care physicians, leading to delayed treatment and increased mortality. This study described the prevalence of common acute respiratory tract infections and simple techniques that effectively detect and diagnose children presenting with acute respiratory symptoms to primary healthcare physicians in remote settings.
Patients And Methods:
This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the pediatric outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital in western Uganda in April, May and June 2019. A total of 896 children aged 2-59 months attending the clinic were recruited consecutively into the study and examined for the presence of acute respiratory infection. Participants' sociodemographic and clinical data were collected through history taking and clinical examination using a validated Uganda Ministry of Health Uganda outpatient clinical checklist (FORM 5). The outcome variable was the presence of an acute upper or lower respiratory condition. Data was analyzed using STATA version 13.0 (StataCorp, College Station, USA) and summarized using descriptive statistics.
Results:
The overall period prevalence of acute respiratory tract infections among children aged 2 to 59 months was 36.9% (36,942 per 100,000 population). Upper respiratory tract infections with a prevalence of 24.8% were more common than lower respiratory tract infections. The most frequent upper respiratory tract infection in this setting was common cold (52%), followed by tonsillopharyngitis (10.7%), while pneumonia (26%) was the most frequent lower respiratory tract infection.
Conclusion:
Acute respiratory tract infections contribute to the high burden of disease in pediatric outpatient clinics. Simple, affordable, and approved diagnostic clinical techniques that involve physical examination of the upper and lower respiratory systems can precisely diagnose acute respiratory tract infections in resource-limited settings where there is no access to sophisticated diagnostic equipment.
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