FREQUENCY OF DIARRHOEA IN PATIENTS ADMITTED IN PAEDIATRIC UNITS OF AYUB TEACHING HOSPITAL, ABBOTTABAD

Muhammad Zatmar Khan

Abstract


Background: Diarrhoea is stools of decreased consistency and increased volume due to imbalance of secretion and absorption of water and salts in the intestine. It is second leading cause of death in children below five years of age worldwide. Children under five year of age develop on average 2–3 episodes of diarrhoea each year. To focus attention on the prevention and management of diarrhoeal diseases is central to improving child survival. The objectives of the study were to know the frequency of diarrhoea in children admitted in paediatric ward units of Ayub Teaching Hospital and to associate various social-demographic factors with occurrence of diarrhoea. Method: A cross sectional study was conducted over span of four months. A sample of 376 patients admitted in the paediatric ward units of Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad, were questioned about diarrhoea using a well formed questionnaire. Results: Three hundred and seventy-six patients diarrhoea with mean age of 26.88±36.259 were interviewed with 7.30 mean days of diarrhoea. Out of 376 patients, 219 (58%) were male and 157 (42%) were female. According to the results water source supply for 114 (30.3%) was municipality water, for 76 (20.2%) well, tube well 59 (15.7%), spring 117 (31.1%) Other 10 (2.7%). Two hundred and fifty-eight (68.6%) were breastfed and 118 (31.4%) were non breastfed and 66 (17.6%) children were school going while 310 (82.4%) were non-school going. Conclusion: Having a source of clean drinking water significantly decrease the risk of disease. Children not vaccinated against measles and low socioeconomic status have high incidence of diarrhoea. Awareness of factors responsible for diarrhoea in children can significantly decrease the frequency of diarrhoea.

Keywords:Diarrhoea, Ayub Teaching Hospital, children under five years of age

Background: Diarrhoea is stools of decreased consistency and increased volume due to imbalance of secretion and absorption of water and salts in the intestine. It is second leading cause of death in children below five years of age worldwide. Children under five year of age develop on average 2–3 episodes of diarrhoea each year. To focus attention on the prevention and management of diarrhoeal diseases is central to improving child survival. The objectives of the study were to know the frequency of diarrhoea in children admitted in paediatric ward units of Ayub Teaching Hospital and to associate various social-demographic factors with occurrence of diarrhoea. Method: A cross sectional study was conducted over span of four months. A sample of 376 patients admitted in the paediatric ward units of Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad, were questioned about diarrhoea using a well formed questionnaire. Results: Three hundred and seventy-six patients diarrhoea with mean age of 26.88±36.259 were interviewed with 7.30 mean days of diarrhoea. Out of 376 patients, 219 (58%) were male and 157 (42%) were female. According to the results water source supply for 114 (30.3%) was municipality water, for 76 (20.2%) well, tube well 59 (15.7%), spring 117 (31.1%) Other 10 (2.7%). Two hundred and fifty-eight (68.6%) were breastfed and 118 (31.4%) were non breastfed and 66 (17.6%) children were school going while 310 (82.4%) were non-school going. Conclusion: Having a source of clean drinking water significantly decrease the risk of disease. Children not vaccinated against measles and low socioeconomic status have high incidence of diarrhoea. Awareness of factors responsible for diarrhoea in children can significantly decrease the frequency of diarrhoea.

Keywords:Diarrhoea, Ayub Teaching Hospital, children under five years of age


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References


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