European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION IN JORDANIAN CHILDREN BELOW 6 YEARS

Alaa Alsghireen* MD, Dua Alhulaisy MD, Sameera Alquran MD and Nancy Alzyoud MD

ABSTRACT

Background: Lower respiratory tract infections are increasing between children. 70% of pediatric pneumonia admissions are between children aged below five years in the USA. The responsible organism in severe acute respiratory illness was influenza A in 50%. Malnutrition is the important risk factor for death in children below five years with lower respiratory tract infections. Objective: To assess the respiratory tract infections characteristics in Jordanian children aged below 6 years. Methods: Our retrospective investigation recruited 299 children patients, of both sexes, aged below 6 years and with respiratory tract infections confirmed symptomatologically or radiologically at Queen Rania hospital for children, Amman, JORDAN, during the period Jan.2022-Jan.2023. Children were classified into two age groups: group I recruited children aged below 3 years and group II included children aged 3–6 years. Respiratory tract infections were classified into upper (n=151) (sinusitis and follicular tonsillitis) and lower infections (n=148) (bronchitis, bronchiolitis and pneumonia). The chi-square test was used. Logistic regression was done to assess the influence of independent on dependent factors. Results: 50.5% of respiratory tract infections in Jordanian children aged below 6 years were upper respiratory tract infections. Malnutrition was found in 11.7% of all children with respiratory tract infections. Lower respiratory tract infections and malnutrition were remarkably more between children aged below 3 years (P< 0.05 and P < 0.005, respectively). The commonest anticipator of lower respiratory tract infection was a younger age (P < 0.005). Conclusion: Upper and lower respiratory tract infections were almost equal in Jordanian children aged below 6 years. Malnutrition was a remarkable risk factors for lower respiratory tract infections in children aged less than 3 years.

Keywords: Respiratory tract infections: upper, lower; malnutrition; Children.