C. Nirmala1, M. Ratna Manjula2, C. Lakshmi Prasanna3, G. Ravi Babu4
BACKGROUND Children represent a vulnerable group who need special care and protection. Study of the morbidity pattern among hospitalised children gives comprehensive information of the various illnesses in the community. The knowledge of the morbidity pattern facilitates a strategic plan of action to deal with the pattern of disease prevalent in the community and adopt appropriate strategies in management. This study was conducted to analyse the pattern of paediatric admissions in a new teaching hospital.
MATERIAL & METHODS This is a retrospective study on admitted children in Paediatric unit of a newly commissioned medical college hospital with 100 paediatric beds during August 2015 to November 2015. The age, sex distribution, various reasons for admission were analysed to study the frequency of diseases among admitted children and their outcome. The details were retrieved from the medical records & admission registers. The results were analysed using MS Excel software and Epi info 7.2 software version statistical software. RESULTS It was found that the most common age group of admitted children is 5 years and above accounting for 43.8% of the total admissions followed by children of less than one year age group (20.8%). There was no significant difference in the gender distribution. The most common diagnosis at the time of admission was viral fever (33.7%) followed by acute respiratory tract infections including pneumonia (23.4%), CNS infections (12.9%) and gastroenteritis (11.9%). The overall mortality rate was found to be 7%.
CONCLUSION Parents are concerned in seeking medical attention regardless of gender and age of the child when sick. Early advice seeking behaviour among parents is directly linked to reduced mortality.
