Anemia as a Risk Factor for Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in Children Below Five Years of Age

Ashish Lakhey,Henish Shakya,Saurav Singh

doi:10.3126/nmj.v1i1.20390

Ashish Lakhey, Henish Shakya + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3126/nmj.v1i1.20390

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Journal: Nepalese Medical Journal	Publication Date: Jun 22, 2018
Citations: 3	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: KIST Medical College

Abstract

Introduction: Lower respiratory tract infection is a major cause of death in children in a developing country and anemia is found to be one of the commonest associated cofactors. This study was aimed to determine association of anemia in children with lower respiratory tract infections.Materials and Methods: The retrospective study was done over a one-year period for children under 5 years of age, admitted in Pediatric Ward of a tertiary Hospital in Lalitpur. The study included 100 diagnosed cases of lower respiratory tract infections as per WHO criteria and 100 age and sex matched patients who did not have respiratory complaints as controls, excluding prematurity, chronic diseases, malnutrition and severe systemic illness. Appropriate clinical history, examination routine investigations like hemoglobin, peripheral smear, and Chest X-ray were included.Results: The age distribution maximum children were in the age group of 3 months to 23 months with significant association with prevalence of both pneumonia (p value 0.005) and anemia (p value 0.002). Anemia was found to be a significant risk factor for LRTI (p value < 0.001) with odds ratio of 2.68 and 95% CI (1.51 – 4.75).Conclusions: Anemia was significantly found to be associated with lower respiratory tract infections and these children were found to be 2.68 times more susceptible to lower respiratory tract infections. Early diagnosis and prevention of anemia is thus important to reduce the incidence of lower respiratory tract infections in children.Nepalese Medical Journal. vol.1, No. 1, 2018, page: 5-8

Highlights

Lower respiratory tract infection is a major cause of death in children in a developing country and anemia is found to be one of the commonest associated cofactors
Anemia was significantly found to be associated with lower respiratory tract infections and these children were found to be 2.68 times more susceptible to lower respiratory tract infections
Diagnosis and prevention of anemia is important to reduce the incidence of lower respiratory tract infections in children

Summary

Introduction

Lower respiratory tract infection is a major cause of death in children in a developing country and anemia is found to be one of the commonest associated cofactors. This study was aimed to determine association of anemia in children with lower respiratory tract infections. Lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is defined as a spectrum of illness which is basically the inflammation of airways and pulmonary tissue below the level of larynx.[1] Pneumonia is one of the major cause of death in children accounting for 16% of all deaths in children under 5 years of age worldwide.[2] It accounts for the highest cause of morbidity in children under 5 years with an average of 5 to 6 episodes of LRTI per year.[3] the occurrence of pneumonia is worldwide, it is most prevalent in South East Asia and Africa.[2] In a developing country like Nepal, it ranks first on top 5 cause of death in under 5 age group.[4] Pneumonia, though a lethal disease, is preventable in many aspects. Interventions like exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months of age, boosting

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