Clinical and Epidemiological Features of Childhood Acute Lower Respiratory Infections (ALRI) in Jos.

Abstract

Summary: The clinical and epidemiological features of acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in 114 children admitted into the Emergency Paediatric Unit (EPU) of the jos University Teaching Hospital over a twelve-month period, was studied prospectively. They were aged one month to 12 years with 69 (60.5 percent) aged two years and below. Ninety four (82.5 percent) of the children had bronchopneumonia, 16 (14 percent) had lobar pneumonia, while four (3.5 percent) had acute bronchiolitis. Common features observed among the study population included low socio-economic status, malnutrition, associated measles, low maternal education, overcrowding in sleeping rooms and domestic fuel air pollution. Sixteen (14 percent) of the children died. A majority (93.8 percent) of those who died were aged two years and below and 56.3 percent died within 24 hours of presentation. Mortality was higher among children less than two years of age, those with severe malnutrition, associated measles and who presented late to hospital. It is suggested that efforts be made towards health education of parents to recognise features of ALRI and seek éarly medical attention. The need for improved socio-economic conditions, efficient case management of acute respiratory infection by primary health care workers and sustained iminunization against childhood communicable diseases, particularly measles, is advocated.