Abstract
Objectives: A case-control study was carried out to identify nutritional risk factors for acute lower respiratory tract infections among infants and children under 5 years. Methods: Children who have been admitted to the pediatric wards at Basra Maternity and Children Hospital and those who have visited Al-Razie Primary Health Center over the period from the 4th of November 2007 till the end of May 2008 were recruited. A total of 110 patients with pneumonia according to the WHO criteria and 207 apparently healthy infants and children, their age ranged from 2 months-5 years were included. Results: The study has revealed that formula feeding in early life, duration of breast feeding of less than 6 months, time of introduction of weaning foods before 6 months, anemia, rickets and malnutrition are significant risk factors for acute lower respiratory tract infection. In addition, a significant correlation was found between the severity of the acute lower respiratory tract infection and rickets, malnutrition, serum calcium level, and hemoglobin level Conclusion: Presence of anemia, rickets and malnutrition are significant risk factors for acute lower respiratory tract infections and also for a more severe disease.
Highlights
It was estimated that more than 10 million children die each year in developing countries before they reach their fifth birthday
Greater peripheral T-cell turnover due to immune activationmay have resulted in a greater need for replenishment from the thymus, these eventsmay cause lower immune functional reserve in preschool-age children born with Low birth weight (LBW).[4]
Anemic children were 5.75 times more susceptible to ALRTI compared to the non-anemic children, and it was concluded that prevention of anemia, due to whatever etiology, will reduce the incidence of ALRTI.[8]
Summary
It was estimated that more than 10 million children die each year in developing countries before they reach their fifth birthday. Providing quality care to sick children is a serious challenge In response to this challenge, WHO and UNICEF developed the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) strategy, which combines improved management of childhood illness with aspects of nutrition, immunization, and other important disease.[1] Based on a simple approach to pneumonia detection, WHO developed and established a programme in 1984 which became the basis for reduction of mortality due to acute lower respiratory tract infection, it includes health education to promote appropriate child. 32, No.1, 2014 care practices (at both the community and family levels) and appropriate acute respiratory infection (ARI) case management within the framework of the primary health care.[2] In Iraq, ARI control programme had been adopted since 1990 For success of such a programme, ARI epidemiology is needed to be known to improve methods of management of these illnesses. Anemic children were 5.75 times more susceptible to ALRTI compared to the non-anemic children, and it was concluded that prevention of anemia, due to whatever etiology, will reduce the incidence of ALRTI.[8]
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