2024, Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part A

Background: Respiratory infections, such as Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) and pneumonia, are major contributors to morbidity and mortality in children, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In Iraq, these infections are notably prevalent due to factors like air pollution and overcrowding, accounting for a significant portion of child deaths. This study seeks to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors associated with respiratory infections among children at the Central Teaching Hospital of Pediatrics in Baghdad to guide public health interventions.

Patients and Methods: Conducted from March 2023 to March 2024, this hospital-based cross-sectional study focused on children aged 2 to 59 months. A total of 307 patients with confirmed respiratory infections were included, excluding those with chronic respiratory conditions. Data collection involved questionnaires and medical records, analyzed using SPSS version 26. The study received ethical approval, and informed consent was obtained from all participants, ensuring adherence to ethical standards and data confidentiality.

Results: Of the 307 children studied, 61% were male, with a median age of 15 months. Children under one year had an average of 2.4 ARI episodes before their first birthday, with symptoms persisting for about 6 days before seeking medical care. Among the ARI cases, 62% had no pneumonia, 24% had pneumonia, and 14% had severe pneumonia. Rhinitis was the most common ARI, affecting 62%, followed by pharyngitis (40%) and bronchopneumonia (28%). Co-morbidities included malnutrition (18.2%), diarrhea (9.3%), and measles-like rash (8.9%). Significant risk factors for ARI included passive smoking, history of contact with infected individuals, low maternal education, and malnutrition. Multivariate analysis highlighted passive smoking (OR 3.85), contact history (OR 3.42), low maternal education (OR 2.87), and malnutrition (OR 2.13) as significant risk factors.

Conclusions: The study highlights a high prevalence of ARIs among children at the Central Teaching Hospital of Pediatrics. Key risk factors include passive smoking, contact with infected individuals, low maternal education, and malnutrition, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to reduce ARI burdens in pediatric populations.