A study of pattern of some common infections in children one month to five years of age

Abstract

Background: Understanding the causes of child mortality provides important public health insights. Globally 6.9 million deaths in children under-5 occurred in 2011. The objective of the present study was to study the pattern of some common infections in children one month to five years of ageMethods: Observational descriptive study was conducted at Department of Paediatric from July 2012 to June 2013 among 368 randomly selected children. Standard diagnostic criteria for Respiratory tract infection, Diarrhea, Tuberculosis, Urinary tract infection, Malaria, Enteric fever, Measles, Pyoderma, Parasitic infections was followed for all children.Results: Respiratory tract infection and Diarrhea occurred most frequently in 7 to 24 month of child that was 82 (51.9%) and 53 (58.2%), respectively. Stool examination in Parasitic infestation showed that Amoeba 1 (7.1%), Giardia 1 (7.1%), Ascariasis 6 (42%), and Hookworms were 6 (42%) in total of 14 cases. Anemia was present in URI, Tuberculosis, Malaria, and Parasitic infestation with mean hemoglobin (Hb) ranges from 8.6 to 9.2. Mantoux showed that 20 (87%) cases had mantoux > 10 mm. Malarial species found were Vivax (16, 66.7%). Respiratory tract infection occurred mostly in winter season.Conclusions: Most common infections in children 1 month to 5 years of age was Respiratory tract infection followed by diarrhea, enteric fever, malaria, tuberculosis, urinary tract infection, parasitic infection, measles and pyoderma.