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Morbidity during the preschool years
Insights
Childhood illness prevalence shows frequent family doctor visits and significant hospitalizations by age five. Respiratory issues, accidents, and gastrointestinal problems were the most common reasons for healthcare encounters.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Understanding childhood illness patterns is crucial for effective healthcare resource allocation.
- A birth cohort study provides valuable longitudinal data on child health from birth to five years.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and types of illnesses experienced by children from birth to five years.
- To analyze healthcare utilization patterns, including family doctor consultations and hospital admissions.
Main Methods:
- A birth cohort of children in Christchurch was followed from birth to age five.
- Data collected included family doctor consultations, hospital admissions, and outpatient attendances.
Main Results:
- By age five, children averaged 18.0 family doctor consultations for illness and 4.7 for preventive care.
- 38% of children were hospitalized, and 62% attended hospital outpatient departments.
- Common reasons for consultations included respiratory illness, skin lesions, gastrointestinal issues, and accidents.
Conclusions:
- Childhood morbidity by age five involves frequent primary care interactions and substantial hospital use.
- Respiratory illnesses, accidents, and gastrointestinal conditions are leading causes of morbidity and healthcare utilization in early childhood.
Abstract:
The prevalence of illness was studied in a birth cohort of Christchurch children during the period from birth to 5 years. By 5 years children had made an average of 18.0 family doctor consultations for morbidity and a further 4.7 for preventive health care procedures; 38% had been admitted to hospital on at least one occasion and 62% had made one or more attendances at a hospital outpatient department. The majority of general practitioner consultations involved four major groups of conditions: respiratory illness; integumental lesions; gastrointestinal illness and accidents. Hospital admissions were dominated by six groups of conditions: respiratory illness, minor surgery, accidents, feeding and management problems, admissions relating to the child's home environment and gastrointestinal illness. Two thirds of hospital outpatient attendances were accounted for by five groups of conditions: accidents; musculoskeletal conditions; respiratory illness; vision problems and congenital heart murmur.