Patterns of respiratory tract infections in children under 5 years of age in a low–middle-income country

Abstract

Background Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are among the most commonly encountered major public health problems, with a higher prevalence of lower RTIs among children and more generally the poor. The present study aimed to describe the pattern of respiratory tract infections in Egyptian children aged under 5 years and explore possible associations between socio-demographics and nutritional status and types of RTIs. Methods Over 6 months beginning in September 2018 (including one winter season), a cross-sectional, observational, epidemiological study was conducted on a sample of patients with upper and lower RTIs diagnosed clinically and/or radiologically in the outpatient clinics at Cairo University Children’s Hospital in Egypt. An interview questionnaire was employed to collect socio-demographic and nutritional data. Heights/lengths and weights were measured and analyzed using the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Anthro Plus [Computer Program]. Patients with pneumonia (n = 28) were compared to 97 healthy children of the same age and sex. Results The total number of children diagnosed with upper and lower respiratory infections was 611. Malnutrition was present in 12.4% of all children with upper and lower RTIs. Lower RTI and malnutrition were substantially more prevalent among children aged under 2 years (p = 0.048 and p < 0.001, respectively). The strongest predictor of lower RTI was a younger age (OR 0.797, CI 0.713–0.89, p < 0.001). Conclusion At our center, approximately one-third of infections in under-fives were lower RTI. Malnutrition was one of the significant risk factors for lower RTI in children below 2 years. The nutritional status of infants and young children should be improved by encouraging exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life and strengthening the healthcare and nutritional counseling available for vulnerable children, particularly in rural regions.

Effect of Overcrowding on Childhood Hospital Admissions for Acute Respiratory Infection: A Matched Case–Control Study

“…17,18 In a study by El-Koofy et al conducted in Egypt, the authors did not find in-house overcrowding as a risk factor of ARIs, also the study also did not reported significance association of residential area with ARIs. 2 In this study we found that being rick considerably reduces the probability of ARI hospitalisation. However, it is believed that having too many people living in one place is a sign of social marginalisation and poverty.…”

“…1 Children and individuals of lower socioeconomic status are particularly susceptible to a higher occurrence of lower RTIs. 2 Severe acute respiratory tract infections (RTIs), specifically pneumonia in children under the age of five, result in hospitalisations and mortality in approximately 15% of instances. 3 According to the findings of the Global Burden of Disease research conducted in 2019, lower respiratory tract infections have been identified as the second leading source of burden among children.…”

Pattern of Antibiotic Use Among Children With Acute Respiratory Infections in Saudi Arabia: Clinical Assessment

“…The demographic profile of our study, dominated by a young median age of three years and a male predominance, is consistent with global pediatric cohorts diagnosed with ARIs. This demographic may be vital in interpreting antibiotic usage patterns since younger children, particularly males, are often more susceptible to respiratory infections due to their developing immune systems and narrower airways [ 19 - 21 ].…”

Basic Indicators of Physical Development in Children Aged 5-6 Years With Recurrent Respiratory Infections

“…Шляхом лінійного регресійного аналізу із Voloshin O.M, Marushko Yu.V., Savchenko I.I. Найчастіше в наукових публікаціях повідомляється, що суттєві й різноспрямовані -у бік зменшення або збільшення -відхилення фізичного розвитку дітей зумовлюють їхню вищу схильність до РРІ [8,10,14,15,28]. З іншого боку, відзначається наявність вираженого негативного впливу частих епізодів ГРІ на їхні антропометричні показники [11,18,19,29].…”

“…Повідомляється, що недостатність харчування є одним із важливих предикторів, що зумовлює вищий рівень захворюваності на ГРІ з ураженням нижніх дихальних шляхів у дітей до 2 років [8]. Затримка росту й виражене схуднення є достатньо розповсюдженими проявами в дітей віком до 5 років, госпіталізованих із приводу ГРІ [9].…”