Hospitalizations and Deaths Because of Respiratory and Diarrheal Diseases Among Haitian Children Under Five Years of Age, 2011–2013. Issue 10 (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vinekar, Kavita; Schaad, Nicolas; Ber Lucien, Mentor Ali; Leshem, Eyal; Oboho, Ikwo K.; Joseph, Gerard; Juin, Stanley; Dawood, Fatimah S.; Parashar, Umesh; Katz, Mark A.; Tohme, Rania A.
• Is Part Of: Pediatric infectious disease journal. Volume 34:Issue 10(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: Communicable diseases in children -- Periodicals; Infection in children -- Periodicals; 618.929
• DOI: 10.1097/INF.0000000000000805
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-3668

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title>Background:</title> <p>Respiratory and diarrheal diseases are leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children younger than 5 years in developing countries. Data on the burden of these diseases in Haiti are scarce.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Methods:</title> <p>We conducted a retrospective review of hospital admission registries during January 1, 2011–December 31, 2013 for children younger than 5 years in 6 hospitals in Haiti. We recorded the number of all-cause, respiratory and diarrheal disease admissions and deaths by epidemiologic week and age.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Results:</title> <p>A total of 31, 565 hospital admissions and 1763 deaths were recorded among children aged <5 years during the study period. Respiratory diseases accounted for 9183 (29%) hospitalizations and 301 (17%) deaths. Children aged 6–23 months had the highest percentage of hospitalizations attributable to respiratory diseases (38%), whereas children aged 36–47 months had the highest proportion of deaths attributable to respiratory diseases (37%). Respiratory disease hospitalizations followed a bimodal seasonal pattern, with peaks during May–June and October–December. Diarrheal diseases accounted for 8063 (26%) hospitalizations and 224 (13%) deaths. Children aged 6–11 months had the highest percentage of diarrhea-associated hospitalizations (39%) and deaths (29%). Diarrheal disease admissions peaked in January–April before the rainy season.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Conclusions:</title> <p>Respiratory and diarrheal diseases contributed to more than half of hospitalizations and almost a third of deaths in children younger than 5 years in Haiti. These data are essential to assess the impact of pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines and other interventions in Haiti.</p> </sec> </abstract>