Respiratory tract infection and nutritional status as risk factors for bloody diarrhea

Abstract EN

Various factors affecting bloody diarrhea in children were studied in a sample of387 children underfive years of age admitted to the University Hospital, Saddam College of Medicine.

Results indicate that the nutritional status of these children on admission was a major determinant of the prognosis.

Bloody diarrhea in children whose nutritional status were below the 80 percents of weightfor height was 3.5 times greater than that of children above 80% and it was 8 times greater in children with signs of vitamins deficiencies and oedema compared to well nourished children.

Respiratory tract infection was also a significant factor in children with bloody diarrhea.

The risk of bloody diarrhea in a child admitted with respiratory tract infection was 2.5 times greater than that for children without chest infection and 7.5 times greater if the child had measles at time of admission or within 4 weeks before onset of diarrhea.

The seasons of the year and weaning also appeared as confoundingfactors for these children.

Forpolity implications, quick and standardised care of children with respiratory tract infection and malnutrition seems to be a priority measure in order to lower the high rates of bloody diarrhea.