Childhood Respiratory Illnesses Orient Journal of Medicine Vol 33 [1-2] Jan-June, 2021 |
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE Respiratory Illnesses Presenting to The Children’s Emergency Room of a Tertiary Hospital in South-East Nigeria: A Retrospective Study |
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Ogochukwu C OFIAELI1 Chizalu I NDUKWU1 Chisom A NRI-EZEDI1 Ogochukwu R OFIAELI2 1Department of Paediatrics 2Department of Medical Microbiology Faculty of Medicine Nnamdi Azikiwe University Anambra State, NIGERIA Author for Correspondence Dr Ogochukwu C OFIAELI Department of Paediatrics Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital PMB 5025 Nnewi Anambra State, NIGERIA Phone: +234 803 474 6680 Email: ofiaeliogochukwuchioma@gmail.com oc.ofiaeli@unizik.edu.ng Received: March 17th, 2020 Accepted: June 30th, 2020 DISCLOSURE There was no conflict of interest nor external source of funds |
ABSTRACT Background: Respiratory illnesses are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. The impact is more profound in low and middle income countries. Objective: To determine the pattern of the respiratory illnesses in children that presented to the Children Emergency Room (CHER) of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, a tertiary hospital in South-East Nigeria, over a 5-year period. Methodology: Clinical records of all children presenting over a 60-month period (July 2011 to June 2016) were retrieved and analyzed. Their age, gender as well as outcome of admission within 72hours in the CHER were reviewed. Results: A total of 4622 children were admitted over the specified period. Six hundred and sixty-eight (14.45%) had an Acute Respiratory Illness(ARI). Age range of the children was I month to 17years, mean age was 2.33 (± 3.56) years. Bronchopneumonia occurring in 27 (41.01 %)children was the most common diagnosis; followed by Bronchiolitis in 78 (11.68%), Aspiration pneumonitis in 41 (6.14%) and Acute Asthma in 40 (5.99%). There was equal gender distribution among the modal age of presentation. Majority of the cases 367 (54.94%) were transferred to the ward for continued care within 72hours of admission, while 54 (8.08%) died. The aetiology of the respiratory pathology (infectious or not) had a significant association with outcome of 72hours of admission in CHER (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Prevalence of ARIs among toddlers is still high. Efforts have to be re-enforced in order to reduce the negative impact of respiratory illness on child health and survival in the sub region. Key Words: Acute pulmonary morbidity, Chest infections, Paediatrics, Healthcare centre |