Factors affecting morbidity of diarrhea in children

Abstract

Objectives: To know the clinical variables and nutritional status associated with morbidity of diarrhea in children under the age of 5 years. Setting: Department of pediatrics in a medical college hospital over a period of one year. Type of study: This was a prospective and observational study. Methodology: 200 randomly selected children in the age group of 6 month to 5 years admitted in indoor and attending Pediatric department OPD were included for study. A detailed medical, dietary, socio economic and immunization history was taken after informed consent along with Physical examination including anthropometry, general physical examination and systemic examination. Results: social class has a significant effect on severity of diarrhea (p<0.0003) but it does not have any significant effect on duration or prolongation of diarrhea. Stunting has no significant effect on severity and duration of diarrhea but children who are wasted and severely wasted have significantly high number of severe dehydration (p=0.0016) and prolong duration of diarrhea (p=0.0019). Higher frequency of stool have significant (p=<0.0008) effect on morbidity of diarrhea. Whereas vomiting has no significant effect on duration but has significant effect on severity of diarrhea. Children having diarrhea along with fever end’s up with longer duration of diarrhea (P=0.0411). Only 8% of Exclusively breast fed children had diarrhea for more than 14 days as compared to 22% of those who did not had exclusive breast feeding (p<0.0005) . Conclusion: Poor nutritional status, high purge rate, fever, lack of exclusive breast feeding increase the possibility of persistent diarrhea.