Nutritional risk factors for acute lower respiratory tract infection among infants and children 2-60 months old in Basra, southern Iraq

Abstract EN

Objectives : A case-control study was carried out to identify nutritional risk factors for acute lower respiratory tract infections among infants and children under 5 years.

Methods : Children who have been admitted to the pediatric wards at Basra Maternity and Children Hospital and those who have visited Al-Razie Primary Health Center over the period from the 4th of November 2007 till the end of May 2008 were recruited.

A total of 110 patients with pneumonia according to the WHO criteria and 207 apparently healthy infants and children, their age ranged from 2 months-5 years were included.

Results : The study has revealed that formula feeding in early life, duration of breast feeding of less than 6 months, time of introduction of weaning foods before 6 months, anemia, rickets and malnutrition are significant risk factors for acute lower respiratory tract infection.

In addition, a significant correlation was found between the severity of the acute lower respiratory tract infection and rickets, malnutrition, serum calcium level, and hemoglobin level.

Conclusion : Presence of anemia, rickets and malnutrition are significant risk factors for acute lower respiratory tract infections and also for a more severe disease.