Recurrent respiratory tract infections in children

Abstract

Respiratory tract infections are one of the major complaints in preschool children. The aim of this study was to highlight the particularities of recurrent respiratory tract infections manifested by ETN and pulmonary infections in children. Materials and methods: The authors performed a retrospective study of 148 patients aged between 2 months and 5 years old, hospitalized with the recurrent respiratory infections. We assessed the risk factor of RRI in children. In the control group were included 40 pediatric patients with abdominal pain sindrome without respiratory infections. Results: The most common clinical forms of RRI in our study included: acute otitis media − 58.31% of cases and/or recurrent pneumonia − 51.16 % of cases, chronic adenoiditis − 60.46% of cases. The authors observed a significant association between RRI and breastfeeding (p=0.0035), school-aged siblings (p=0.0013), immunodeficiency's (p=0.002), recurrent use of antibiotics (p≪0.001), early socialization (in day-care centers) (p=0.0316). In conclusion, the risk factors identified in the study group responsible for RRI were: the duration under 4 months of natural food, the presence of older siblings in the family attending the community, comorbidities (immunodeficiency, malnutrition, iron deficiency anemia, rickets) antibiotics, and early socialization.