Occurrence Of Acute Respiratory Infections Research Articles

The Relationship between Exclusive Breastfeeding and the Incidence of Acute Respiratory Tract Infection in Children Under Five in Muna Regency Southeast Sulawesi Province

Backgrounds: Data obtained from the Muna District Health Service shows that there are still many toddlers affected by acute respiratory infections and each year this increases. In 2019 there were 3778 cases (23.7%), in 2020 there were 2500 cases (12.2%), while in 2021 there were 3868 cases (24.2%). The aim of this research is to analyze the relationship between giving exclusive breast milk and the incidence of acute respiratory infections in toddlers in Muna Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province.
 Methods: This type of research is quantitative observational using a Cross Sectional Study design. This research was carried out in July 2022. The research population was all toddlers in Muna Regency, totaling 3868 people and a sample of 97 people obtained using proportional simple random sampling. Data were processed using the chi-square test, closeness test and phi test.
 Results: The research results showed that the results of the chi-square test on the variable giving exclusive breast milk obtained a p value of 0.000. This shows that H0 is rejected and Ha is accepted, meaning that there is a moderate relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and the eventAcute respiratory infectionsamong toddlers in Muna Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province.
 Conclusion: There is a connection between giving exclusive breast milk and the incident Acute respiratory infectionsamong toddlers in Muna Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province. It is hoped that mothers can provide knowledge about the factors related to the occurrence of acute respiratory infections in toddlers.

Respiratory Viruses and Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Surveillance Among Hospitalized Children with Acute Respiratory Infections - Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, September-November 2023.

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are a significant contributor to illness and death in children. There has been a notable rise in the occurrence of ARIs and the associated pathogens in China, which has garnered worldwide attention. This study conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical characteristics of children with ARIs in Wuhan City from September to November 2023. The study evaluated the epidemiological patterns of common respiratory viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP), revealing a continued prevalence of MP and a growing trend of influenza. Our findings emphasize that the circulation of respiratory viruses and MP has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, underscoring the importance of enhancing surveillance for respiratory pathogens. The epidemiology of ARIs and the pathogens involved need to be emphasized. This highlights the importance of developing policies to protect children from respiratory pathogens such as MP, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus.

Risk analysis of temperature, humidity, ventilation, use of mosquito repellent, and smoking behaviour on the incidence of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in Toddlers

Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) are commonly experienced by children, infants, and toddlers. This study analysed the relationship of several factors that cause the occurrence of ARI in Toddlers, namely temperature, humidity, exposure to cigarette smoke, and the use of mosquito repellent.
 This study used the meta-analysis method by doing a literature search and then finding the value of the effect size using JASP.
 The research with meta-analysis showed that the smoking behaviour of family members is the highest risk of ARI in toddlers with a value of PR=E1.57=4,572 (95% CI 1.28-1.77). Furthermore, ventilation is the second highest risk of ARI in toddlers, with PR=E1.36=3.896. Then the humidity condition with the value of PR=E1.31=3.706. Other variables, such as air temperature risk increasing the incidence of ARI up to 2,829 times, and mosquito coils that had an impact up to 2,293 times increased the risk of ARI in Toddlers.
 All variables can increase the risk of ARI in toddlers, with the three most potent variables being smoking behaviour, ventilation, and humidity. Other variables can still increase the risk of ARI in toddlers, but to a lesser extent

RISK FACTORS OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTION AMONG UNDER FIVE CHILDREN IN RURAL COMMUNITY OF NORTH DELHI

Introduction: Children are mankinds seeds for the future and God given gift or hope. They deserve the almost care from us. Children are as a clay material. Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is a serious public health issue especially in developing nations like India where the majority of people are impoverished, live in slums and exposed to deadly diseases. Children under the age of five are particularly vulnerable to infection at an early stage. So, for the maintenance of best healthy status of children and identification of risk factors of acute respiratory infection among under five children is essential. Aim:To explore risk factors of acute respiratory infection among under five children in rural community of NorthDelhi region Methodology:An exploratory research design was adopted for this study. A total 430 one to five years age of children were selected with the help of consecutive sampling technique in randomly selected villages of North Delhi region. Semi structured interview schedulewas used for data collection. Results: The prevalence of acute respiratory infection was 35% (150 out of 430 children). It was identified that preterm delivery, Low birth weight, birth order of children, overcrowding in the house, indoor smoking, smoky fuel used for cooking, house location near by dusty main road, open drainage system, Family history of respiratory infection leading to cause of occurrence of ARI among children. Conclusion: Multivariate factors are responsible for acute respiratory infection among children which can be modified to prevent morbidity and mortality rate of under five children due to acute respiratory infection.

Thinking of the children: Energy poverty and acute respiratory infections among young children in South Asia

Energy poverty has been extensively studied in the literature regarding its impact on physical, mental, and maternity health as well as the social well-being of adults. However, there is still a research gap in understanding how energy poverty specifically affects the health of young children under the age of five, particularly toward the occurrence of acute respiratory infections (ARIs). To address this gap, this paper aims to clarify the link between energy poverty and acute respiratory illness among young children in South Asia. We utilized data from five demographic and health surveys conducted between 2015 and 2018, encompassing 292,196 young children. Employing the multidimensional energy poverty index and principal component analysis, we assessed energy poverty at the household level, considering indicators such as lack of electricity, clean cooking fuels, indoor smoke, and lifestyle-sustaining devices. Applying multilevel logistic and probit instrumental variable regression models, this study revealed that multidimensional energy poverty significantly triggers the risk of ARI among young children. Specifically, a 1 % increase in energy poverty leads to a 48 % increase in the odds of developing ARI among young children in South Asian households. Furthermore, regional disparities in the impact of energy poverty on respiratory infections were identified. Our findings remain robust across different methods and measures of energy poverty. The findings of this research work have a significant policy implication for ensuring sustainable energy services to improve children's health, contributing to sustainable development goals 3 (good health and well-being) and 7 (affordable and clean energy).

Nutritional Status and Its Association with the Pattern and Risk of Acute Respiratory Infections among Infants in Rivers State, Nigeria: The Salient Factors and Way Out

Nutritional status measures a child’s health, in view of normal growth and development, physical activity and response to serious illness. Acute respiratory infections present diverse risks of clinical conditions among infants of varying nutritional status. The aim was to determine the extent and pattern of relationship between risk of acute respiratory infections (ARI) among infants and nutritional status. The study design was population-based case-control study of 1,100 randomly selected infants from 12 communities in 6 Local Government Areas of the 3 senatorial districts of Rivers State. The subjects were selected using multistage random sampling technique down to the community level. The characteristics of the subjects were represented using descriptive method whereas bivariate logistics regression at 5% level of significance was used to test the differences in ARI between normal nutritional status and some types of malnutritional status. Measures of size effect of ARI on nutritional status disparities were interpreted using odds ratio (OR). Pattern of ARI occurrence among infants with undernutrition status indicated by weight-for-age (15.4%) is higher in rural communities, than in urban communities (13.3%). While the difference in pattern of ARI occurrence among infants with undernutrition status indicated by weight-for-height (11.6%) is higher in urban communities, than in rural communities (9.1%). Overall, infants with underweight (weight at -2SD and below) malnutrition status from weight-for-age and wasting malnutrition status from weight-for-height had higher frequencies of occurrence of ARI, 22.9% and 26.2% respectively than their control subjects of same nutritional status of ARI, 8.7% and 15.6% respectively. Among infants of weight-for-age (≤ - 2SD) undernutrition, the odds for ARI (unadjusted) was 3.09 times higher in significance compared to infants with normal weight-for-age, OR- Unadjusted=3.09 (p<0.0001,95%CI=0.227-0.478), whereas the odds for ARI (adjusted) was a significant risk lower among infants with normal weight-for-age by 70% (OR=0.31, p< 0.0001, 95%CI = 0.201 – 0.475) against infants having underweight malnutrition, while infants of weight-for-height (wasting) malnutrition, the odds for ARI (unadjusted) was 1.89 times higher in significance compared to infants with normal weight-for-height, OR-Unadjusted=1.89, (p<0.0001, 95% CI=0.406-0.786). These findings indicate trend of focus regarding rural and urban communities in the occurrence of ARI among infants based on under-nutritional status to effectively manage the condition, including renewed public health interventions from the prenatal period of life of the child.

Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Dan Keluarga Dalam Pencegahan Dan Penanganan Awal Ispa Pada Bayi Dan Balita Di Ampenan, Kota Mataram

Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) is a health problem in developed and developing countries. This is due to the high morbidity and mortality rates due to ARI among children under five. ARI is included in the top 10 disease category in NTB with the highest number of visits, that is 174,213 (NTB Health Profile, 2020). In general, there are 3 risk factors for ARI,that is environmental factors, individual child factors and behavioral factors. Behavioral factors can be changed by increasing knowledge in the family. Observations in Karang Ujung Village show the lack of family knowledge about ARIs, how to prevent and treat them early. Therefore, it is important to conduct socialization through community and family empowerment activities in the prevention and early treatment of ARI in infants and toddlers in Karang Ujung Village. Activities are carried out in 3 stages, as follows: 1) identification of the number of infant and toddlers; 2) socialization, and 3) evaluation. The number of mothers with infant and toddlers who participated in community activities was 25 people. The results of the evaluation show that mothers of infants and toddlers have an understanding of ARI, how to prevent and early treat when a child has a cough. It is hoped that the people of Karang Ujung Village can immediately take preventive measures to prevent the occurrence of ARI in infants and toddlers and in the event of ARI disease in their families

Hubungan Kondisi Lingkungan, Kebiasaan Merokok Orang Tua dan Perilaku Cuci Tangan dengan Kejadian Infeksi Saluran Pernapasan Akut pada Anak di RSUD Matraman

Introduction: Acute respiratory infections in toddlers are caused by factors such as the condition of the home environment and toddler factors (nutritional status, exclusive breastfeeding, completeness of immunization, baby's age and low birth weight). Conditions in the home environment that can affect the air quality in the house can trigger the occurrence of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI), including environmental tobacco smoke or affect cigarette smoke in the house. Objective: To determine the relationship between environmental conditions, parents' smoking habits and hand-washing behavior with the incidence of ARI in children at Matraman Hospital Methods: The research design is analytic with a cross-sectional approach. In this study, the population was 58 children who experienced acute respiratory infections at the Matraman Hospital. The sampling technique used Accidental sampling. the research instrument used a questionnaire/questionnaire and was analyzed using the Chi-Square Test. Results: Based on the results of the Chi-Square test, it was found that there was a relationship between environmental conditions and the incidence of ARI in children with a P-value = 0.017 and an OR value of 4.615. The relationship between parents' smoking habits at home and the incidence of ARI in children has a P-value = 0.001 and an OR value of 8.640. The relationship between handwashing behavior at home and the incidence of ARI in children has a P-value = 0.003 and OR 6.750. Conclusion: The description of the results of the study was that in most of the incidents of mild ARI, environmental conditions were good, parents' smoking habits at home were good and hand-washing behavior at home was good. There is a relationship between environmental conditions, parents' smoking habits at home and hand-washing behavior at home with the incidence of ARI in children at Matraman Hospital. The most influential factor in the incidence of ARI in children at Matraman Hospital is parents' smoking habits at home

Study on acute respiratory infection in children aged 1 year to 5 years-A hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are the single greatest cause of death among children throughout the world. They are responsible every year for the deaths of 4.3 million children under 5 years of age worldwide. Community- or hospital-based surveys for finding out the prevalence and various factors associated with ARI are very few, especially in urban areas. Also, surveys to study the use of vaccines in preventing ARIs are scarce. Hence, we studied ARI in children aged 1 year to 5 years in a tertiary care hospital in Kerala. The aim was to determine the frequency of ARIs in the last 1 year in children aged 1 year to 5 years, attending the immunization clinic at Lourdes Hospital, Kochi, and assess the selected epidemiological, socio-demographic, nutritional and immunization factors associated with ARIs in the study group. Children attending the immunization clinic at a tertiary care hospital, Kochi, in the age group of 1 year to 5 years were selected. A brief introduction was given to the mother/caregiver of the child regarding the purpose of the study and was asked to fill out the questionnaire. Informed consent was taken. For the study, ARI is defined as the presence of one or more of the following: cough, running nose, blocked nose, sore throat, difficulty breathing, or ear problems; with or without fever. Results were analyzed. Mother was the caregiver in 67% of the cases. When the caregiver was the mother, ARI is found to be less. Among those mothers who had no formal education, 100% of their children got ARI. Children whose caregivers were 30 years and older had lesser ARI. The proportion of children with ARIs was more with a history of respiratory infection among family members (parents/siblings) compared to those with no such history. The occurrence of ARI was more frequent in rural compared to urban areas. There is a significant proportion of ARI in non-exclusively breastfed infants, bottle feeding, and early initiation of complementary feeding. Children with a history of exposure to cigarette smoke had an increased occurrence of ARI. Similar results followed for exposure to biomass fuel and exposure to cold and rain. Children who were not immunized to vaccines-pneumococcal, Hib, measles, vitamin A, showed a higher occurrence of ARI compared to immunization. The studies regarding factors influencing ARI are relatively rare in an urban setting, thus this calls for more studies in urban areas. Health education can change the healthcare-seeking behavior and attitude of parents for preventing ARI-related deaths. Family physicians can play a significant role by educating caregivers of children and giving timely services. Promoting and ensuring exclusive breastfeeding practices, timely weaning after 6 months, and avoidance of bottle feeds can dramatically decrease the episodes of ARI.

Association Between PM2,5 Wood Dust Exposure and Acute Respiratory Infection on Plywood Industry Workers in PT. Muara Kayu Sengon, Jatilawang District, Banyumas Regency

The plywood processing industry is one of the fastest growing industries. However, this has a negative impact and may cause the emergence of air pollution by dust produced from the plywood processing industry. Air pollution caused by the plywood processing industry can trigger problems such as the atmosphere, the economy, and health. The plywood processing industry has potential to create a source of pollution in the form of dust which is harmful to the environment and the health of workers. This study aimed to determine and analyze the assosiation between PM2,5 wood dust exposure and the case of acute respiratory infection (ARI) in plywood industry workers. The research method used is cross-sectional with a total sample of 142 female workers at 17 locations PM2,5 wood dust measurement and using a standardized Questionnaire British Medical Research Council (QUES BMRC -86). PM2,5 wood dust measurement using tools DustTrak. Based on the results of the study showed that the average of PM2,5 at 17 points of 5.23 mg/m3 which exceeds the Threshold Value according to the Regulation of the Minister of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia Number 5 of 2018 concerning the Threshold Value of Chemical Factors in the Air of the Work Environment for Types of Softwood Dust, namely 5 mg/m3 who are at risk of experiencing the case of acute respiratory infection. The results of the analysis and the results of the logistic regression test show that there are 4 significant variables is a assosiation between with the case of acute respiratory infection, for exposure to PM2,5 dust (p = <0.001; RP = 12,757; 95% CI = 1,819 - 89,477), working period (p value = <0.001; RP = 13.048; 95% CI = 4.217 – 40.377), use of personal protective equipment (p value = <0.001; IDR 7,568; 95% CI = 2.453 – 23.352), and age (p value = <0.001, RP = 5.582, 95% CI = 2.323 – 13.413). The conclusion of this study is that there is a assosiation between exposure to PM2,5, wood dust, years of service, use of personal protective equipment, age and the case of acute respiratory infection in plywood industry workers. Therefore, to prevent the occurrence of acute respiratory infection, workers are advised to use complete personal protective equipment when doing work in the plywood industry of PT. Muara Kayu Sengon, Jatilawang District, Banyumas Regency.

History of Low Birth Weight and Exclusive Breastfeeding on the Incidence of Acute Respiratory Infection in Children Under Five Years

Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) are one of the main causes of infectious disease morbidity and mortality worldwide. Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) is a health problem that often occurs in children, and the group most at risk is children under five years. This study aimed to determine the relationship between nutritional status and exclusive breastfeeding on the incidence of ARI in the working area of the Loa Bakung Public Health Center, Samarinda. This type of research is quantitative research using a cross-sectional approach. The samples in this study were parents of children under five who visited the Posyandu in the working area of the Loa Bakung Public Health Center, Samarinda. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling with a total sample of 181 respondents. The analytical test used in this research is chi-square. The chi-square test results on the history of LBW obtained a p-value = 0.373 and exclusive breastfeeding with a p-value = 0.440. This shows no relationship between a history of LBW and exclusive breastfeeding on the incidence of ARI at the Loa Bakung Public Health Center, Samarinda. The incidence of ARI in children under five years at the Loa Bakung Public Health Center, Samarinda, is not influenced by a history of LBW and exclusive breastfeeding. Still, other factors could have influenced the incident that was not carried out in this study. The role of parents is very important in maintaining the health of their children under five years to prevent the occurrence of ARI in their children under five years.

Association of household fuel with acute respiratory infection (ARI) under-five years children in Bangladesh.

In developing countries, acute respiratory infections (ARIs) cause a significant number of deaths among children. According to Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS), about 25% of the deaths in children under-five years are caused by ARI in Bangladesh every year. Low-income families frequently rely on wood, coal, and animal excrement for cooking. However, it is unclear whether using alternative fuels offers a health benefit over solid fuels. To clear this doubt, we conducted a study to investigate the effects of fuel usage on ARI in children. In this study, we used the latest BDHS 2017-18 survey data collected by the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) and estimated the effects of fuel use on ARI by constructing multivariable logistic regression models. From the analysis, we found that the crude (the only type of fuel in the model) odds ratio (OR) for ARI is 1.69 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-2.71]. This suggests that children in families using contaminated fuels are 69.3% more likely to experience an ARI episode than children in households using clean fuels. After adjusting for cooking fuel, type of roof material, child's age (months), and sex of the child-the effect of solid fuels is similar to the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for ARI (OR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.05-2.72). This implies that an ARI occurrence is 69.2% more likely when compared to the effect of clean fuel. This study found a statistically significant association between solid fuel consumption and the occurrence of ARI in children in households. The correlation between indoor air pollution and clinical parameters of ARI requires further investigation. Our findings will also help other researchers and policymakers to take comprehensive actions by considering fuel type as a risk factor as well as taking proper steps to solve this issue.

SO2 Concentration and the Occurrence of Acute Respiratory Infection in Children Under Five

Jakarta is the capital city of Indonesia, with 10.7 million inhabitants with poor air quality as of 2020. Higher levels of pollution often come with an increase in the number of health risks and pneumonia cases. This study aimed to determine the association between SO2 concentration and the occurrence of acute respiratory infection in children under five. An ecological time series design was implemented during the study by utilizing secondary data of SO2 concentrations and ARI from the Indonesian Agency for Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysics, the Special Capital Region of Jakarta Environmental, and Health Office. Statistical correlation tests were performed to analyze the association between SO2 concentration and ARI prevalence in five administrative cities in Jakarta from 2018-2021 based on the rainy and dry seasons. The average concentration of SO2 was 18.06–20.89 μg/m3. There was no significant correlation between SO2 concentration and the occurrence of ARI in children under five in Jakarta in 2018–2021, with a weak relationship (r = 0.24). It seems that children under five in Jakarta spent their time indoors rather than outdoors, so they were exposed to fewer transportation emissions.

Gendered Impact of Age, Toilet Facilities, and Cooking Fuels on the Occurrence of Acute Respiratory Infections in Toddlers in Indonesia and the Philippines.

The purpose of the study was to analyze the risk factors of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in children under five in Indonesia and the Philippines and to implement a primary review of the characteristics of toddlers and their households in both countries. Data were obtained from the 2017 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) of Indonesia and the Philippines. The characteristics of children, mothers, and households were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression to examine the significant correlations between variables. The percentage of children under five with ARI symptoms in 2017 was 1.51% in the Philippines and 4.22% in Indonesia. In Indonesia, males aged under one year had significantly lower occurrences of ARI symptoms (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.36-0.82). In the Philippines, dirty cooking fuels had a significant effect on increasing the likelihood of ARI in female toddlers (OR 4.01, 95% CI 1.02-15.83). In the Philippines, the unavailability of toilet facilities had a significant effect on increasing the likelihood of ARI in male toddlers (OR 2.67, 95% CI 1.15-6.16). The comparison of risk factors between male and female toddlers revealed different results in some variables, as follows: children aged under one year, dirty cooking fuels, and unavailable toilet facilities. The role of parents is fundamental in taking care of female toddlers, since they are more exposed to ARI at the age of under one year and are more prone to indoor air pollution from solid cooking fuels.

Effectiveness of a home-environmental intervention package and an early child development intervention on child health and development in high-altitude rural communities in the Peruvian Andes: a cluster-randomised controlled trial

BackgroundUnsafe drinking water, poor sanitation and hygiene, exposure to household air pollution and low cognitive and socio-emotional stimulation are risk factors affecting children in low- and middle-income countries. We implemented an integrated home-environmental intervention package (IHIP), comprising a kitchen sink, hygiene education and a certified improved biomass cookstove, and an early child development (ECD) programme to improve children´s health and developmental outcomes in the rural high-altitude Andes of Peru.MethodsWe conducted a one-year cluster-randomised controlled trial among 317 children < 36 months divided into 4 arms (IHIP + ECD, IHIP, ECD, and Control) and 40 clusters (10 clusters per arm). ECD status (socio-emotional, fine and gross motor, communication, cognitive skills, and an overall performance) measured with the Peruvian Infant Development Scale and the occurrence of self-reported child diarrhoea from caretakers were primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes included the occurrence of acute respiratory infections and the presence of thermo-tolerant faecal bacteria in drinking water. The trial was powered to compare each intervention against its control arm but it did not allow pairwise comparisons among the four arms. Primary analysis followed the intention-to-treat principle. For the statistical analysis, we employed generalised estimating equation models with robust standard errors and an independent correlation structure.ResultsWe obtained ECD information from 101 children who received the ECD intervention (individually and combined with IHIP) and 102 controls. Children who received the ECD intervention performed better in all the domains compared to controls. We found differences in the overall performance (64 vs. 39%, odd ratio (OR): 2.8; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6–4.9) and the cognitive domain (62 vs 46%, OR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1–3.5). Data analysis of child morbidity included 154 children who received the IHIP intervention (individually and combined with ECD) and 156 controls. We recorded 110,666 child-days of information on diarrhoea morbidity and observed 1.3 mean episodes per child-year in the children who received the IHIP intervention and 1.1 episodes in the controls. This corresponded to an incidence risk ratio of 1.2 (95% CI: 0.8–1.7).ConclusionsChild stimulation improved developmental status in children, but there was no health benefit associated with the home-environmental intervention. Limited year-round access to running water at home and the possible contamination of drinking water after boiling were two potential factors linked to the lack of effect of the home-environmental intervention. Potential interactions between ECD and home-environmental interventions need to be further investigated.Trial registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN-26548981. Registered 15 January 2018—Retrospectively registered, https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN26548981.Graphical abstract

Machine learning predictive modelling for identification of predictors of acute respiratory infection and diarrhoea in Uganda's rural and urban settings.

Despite the widely known preventive interventions, the dyad of acute respiratory infections (ARI) and diarrhoea remain among the top global causes of mortality in under- 5 years. Studies on child morbidity have enormously applied "traditional" statistical techniques that have limitations in handling high dimension data, which leads to the exclusion of some variables. Machine Learning (ML) models appear to perform better on high dimension data (dataset with the number of features p (usually correlated) larger than the number of observations N). Using Uganda's 2006-2016 DHS pooled data on children aged 6-59 months, I applied ML techniques to identify rural-urban differentials in the predictors of child's diarrhoea and ARI. I also used ML to identify other omitted variables in the current child morbidity frameworks. The predictors were grouped into four categories: child characteristics, maternal characteristics, household characteristics and immunisation. I used 90% of the datasets as a training sets (dataset used to fit (train) a prediction model), which were tested or validated (dataset (pseudo new) used for evaluating the performance of the model on a new dataset) on 10% and 30% datasets. The measure of prediction was based on a 10-fold cross-validation (resampling technique). The gradient-boosted machine (ML technique) was the best-selected model for the identification of the predictors of ARI (Accuracy: 100% -rural and 100%-urban) and diarrhoea (Accuracy: 70%-rural and 100%-urban). These factors relate to the household's structure and composition, which is characterised by poor hygiene and sanitation and poor household environments that make children more suspectable of developing these diseases; maternal socio-economic factors such as education, occupation, and fertility (birth order); individual risk factors such as child age, birth weight and nutritional status; and protective interventions (immunisation). The study findings confirm the notion that ARI and diarrhoea risk factors overlap. The results highlight the need for a holistic approach with multisectoral emphasis in addressing the occurrence of ARI and diarrhoea among children. In particular, the results provide an insight into the importance of implementing interventions that are responsive to the unique structure and composition of the household. Finally, alongside traditional models, machine learning could be applied in generating research hypotheses and providing insight into the selection of key variables that should be considered in the model.

Evaluating the efficacy of preventive influence of the dietary supplement Vitaglucan with immunocorrective and antioxidant properties in children with frequent acute respiratory infections

Background. Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are one of the most common groups of diseases in pediatric practice. According to the latest statistics, 1/6 of the world’s population suffers from them in the inter-epidemic period. There is no specific prevention of ARI, which requires the search for effective non-toxic medicines of non-specific prevention, in particular those with immunocorrective and antioxidative effects. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the change in the number of ARI episodes in children administered Vitaglucan, a dietary supplement with immunocorrective properties, and to study the subjective indicators of the syrup intake satisfaction. Materials and methods. The study includes 943 children aged 3–18 years who had ≥ 6 episodes of ARI during the previous year (retrospective data from medical records). We have evaluated the change in the number of ARI episodes in children prescribed Vitaglucan, a syrup with immunocorrective properties containing β-glucan (from Pleurotus ostreatus) and sea buckthorn juice. Subjective indicators of syrup efficacy were assessed. Results. The results obtained indicate the presence of a pronounced preventive effect of the dietary supplement Vitaglucan on the occurrence of ARI in children both on the background of taking the syrup and during the epidemic period. Syrup tolerability, results of its administration were assessed as high, the parents also rated the effectiveness of the dietary supplement as high. Conclusions. Dietary supplement Vitaglucan can be included in the diet of children over 3 years of age as an additional source of β-glucan and biologically active substances of sea buckthorn.

Relationship of the Physical Environment with the Incidence of ARI in Toddlers

Factors that are closely related to the occurrence of ARI is the physical environment that does not meet health requirements. The group that has a high risk of being exposed to Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) is toddlers as a vulnerable group because they have more time at home and their immune system is quite weak than adults. This study is aim to at studying the correlation between physical environment with the incidence of ARI toddlers in Kandai Health Center Area, Kendari City. This type of study is analytic with a Cross-Sectional Study plan. The study population was 1.576 people and the sample was 94, using Accidental Sampling. Data testing utilizes the Chi-Square test. Chi-Square test results obtained ventilation (p-value=0.001 and phi value=0.359), population density (p-value=0.002 and phi value=0.348), smoke holes (p-value=0.025 and phi value=0.255), floor types (p-value=0.040 and phi value=0.236) and wall types (p-value=0.012 and phi value=0.282). It means that there is a correlation between ventilation area, population density, smoke holes, wall type and floor type with the occurrence of ARI in toddlers in the Kandai Health Center area, Kendari City. It is expected that the relevant health agencies to play a more role in increasing public knowledge through counseling to reduce the number of cases of ARI disease in toddlers.

The Analysis of Meteorological Factors and Ambient Air Quality (PM10, CO, SO2, NO2, and O3) with the Incidence of Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) in Tangerang City, Indonesia During 2010-2019

Tangerang City is a city with a high population, vehicles, and industries, so the pollutant emissions in the air are increasing. It has a high contribution in the occurrence of ARI (Acute Respiratory Infection). These pollutants are PM10, CO, SO2, NO2, and O3. In addition, meteorological factors such as air temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, wind velocity, and the length of sun exposure also affect the occurrence of the disease. Research Purposes: The purpose of this research is to find out how the correlation between meteorological factors and ambient air quality with the incidence of ARI in Tangerang City during 2010 to 2019. Research Methodology: This research uses analytic observational research, quantitative approaches, and retrospective cohort study design, also ecological study. The population used as a sample is all the data of meteorological factors, ambient air quality, and the incidence of ARI in Tangerang City during 2010 to 2019. Correlation analysis was performed using regression correlation analysis, simple linear regression test, and multiple linear regression test. Research Result: The result showed that meteorological factors and ambient air quality associated with the incidence of ARI are relative humidity (p = 0,039), rainfall (p = 0,044), wind velocity (p = 0,033), the length of sun exposure (p = 0,042), PM10(p = 0,024), CO (p = 0,040), NO2(p = 0,049), and O3(p = 0,039). KEYWORDS: Meteorological factors, Ambient air quality, Acute respiratory infection (ARI)

Brushing Teeth and Acute Respiratory Infections in Day Care Facilities: An Ecological Study in Selected Regions of Lower Saxony, Germany (2013-2018)

Dental group prophylaxis in day-care centers with teeth brushing as one of its components is intended to reduce caries incidence and promote dental health. However, various barriers can hinder implementation of this preventive measure. One concern relates to an increased risk of transmission of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in day-care centers. The ZINFEKT study aimed at determining whether and to what extent there are differences in the occurrence of ARI between day-care centers that implement vs. those that do not implement teeth brushing. In an ecological study, 2013-2018 data from the ARI surveillance of the Public Health Agency of Lower Saxony were merged with information from the Dental Services on teeth brushing for n=33 day-care facilities from the urban municipality of Braunschweig, the region of Hannover, and the administrative district of Osnabrück (all Lower Saxony, Germany). Following the concept of patient days from hospital infection surveillance, "ill child weeks" were specified as observational units, defined as weeks for which an ARI had been reported for a registered child. Besides cross-tabulations, relative risks for ill child weeks by teeth brushing and Breslow-Day Tests for interactions with area, size of day-care center, ARI season and time slot with ARI seasons were computed. Overall, the ARI-rate, defined at the proportion of ill child weeks, was 4.6% higher in day-care centers in which teeth brushing took place, vs. centers in which this measure was not implemented (17.9 vs. 13.3%, p<0.0001). In analyses stratified by the geographic and temporal co-variables, the direction of this difference did not change (with one exception: day-care centers with 50 or less registered children) . The assumption that regular teeth brushing is associated with higher ARI rates in day-care centers does seem to have an empirical basis. However, despite the study's limitations (primarily its ecological design and possibly limited representativeness of the day-care centers), the identified difference - due both to its magnitude and possibly improvable hygiene compliance - to our assessment does not speak against brushing teeth as a component of dental group prophylaxis in day-care centers.