Prevalence of Common Infectious Diseases in Paediatric Age Group Admitted in Children’s Hospital Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Infectious diseases are common causes of presenting in emergency having severe signs and symptoms. Having significant mortality and morbidity are on the rise in Pakistan. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of infectious diseases in paediatric population.
Methodology: We studied 200 consecutive patients from 1 month to 12 years of age presenting with infectious diseases. Their detailed history was then taken including symptoms at presentation and the type of infection was assessed with the help of history and laboratory investigations. Following are the common infectious diseases including pneumonia, meningitis, enteric fever, malaria, measles, tuberculosis, acute watery diarrhoea.
Results: Frequency wise infectious diseases are pneumonia (63.5%), meningitis (20%), acute watery diarrhoea (8.5%), enteric fever (4%), malaria (2%), tuberculosis (2%), and no measles case found. Infectious diseases are more common in rural areas than urban areas and success after treatment is more (49.5) than death (2%) but a bad impact is that (48.5%) patient went without treatment.
Conclusion: This data is taken in winter season that is why Pneumonia is most common infectious disease, second most common infectious disease is meningitis, and others are acute watery diarrhoea, enteric fever, malaria and tuberculosis in our patients. The awareness of risk factors amongst the public is low. Thus, there is an urgent need to create more and more awareness about the preventive aspects and healthier life style behaviour in our community.