Diarrhoea prevalence, characteristics and outcome among children admitted into the emergency ward of a tertiary hospital in Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Diarrhoea is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children, particularly in developing nations. The majority of cases can be successfully managed at home, but a few cases may necessitate admission to the emergency ward. The purpose of this research is to determine the prevalence, characteristics, outcome, and associated factors among those admitted. After obtaining consent, all children who presented with diarrhoea within a year were recruited for the study. A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect biodata, diarrhoea treatment, and outcome information from caregivers. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 was used to analyze the data. A total of 164 of the 5,087 children seen were admitted for diarrhoea, resulting in a 3.2% prevalence. A higher proportion of the participants were males, aged 0-24 months, and were not exclusively breastfed. A third of the participants had diarrhoea in the previous year, with a higher proportion having 1-2 episodes. The case fatality rate was 2.4%. The prevalence of diarrhoeal admissions is low, as is the case fatality rate. Stool frequency, hydration status, and socioeconomic class were all significant predictors of fatal diarrhoea outcomes. Recurrent episodes of diarrhoea were significantly associated with maternal education and attendance at day care centers.