Publication:

Socio-demographic profile of under five children admitted for acute lower respiratory tract infections in a tertiary care hospital

Background Children are considered to be susceptible to the host of disease and infections. Acute respiratory tract infection is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children below five years of age. Objective of current study was to know the socio-demographic profile of under five children admitted for acute lower respiratory tract infections.

Methods Hospital based case control study conducted at Basaveshwar and Sangameshwar general hospital, both attached to MR medical college, Gulbarga. The study period was one and half year from 01-01-2012 to 30-06-2013. 200 ALRI cases fulfilling WHO criteria for pneumonia, in the age group of 2 months to 5 years were interrogated for potential modifiable risk factors as per a predesigned proforma. 200 healthy control children in the same age group were also interrogated.

Results Majority (46%) of the respondents were between the age group of 2-12 months with 60.7% of them from the rural areas. 59 (29.5%) cases had mud or cow dung flooring in their house as compared to 44 (22.0%) controls. The association between flooring and ALRI was statistically significant.

Conclusion Efforts should be made to improve the literacy status of the parents by the administration. Improving the housing condition of the family and better living can reduce the incidence of the Acute respiratory infection among the under five children.