Burden of IMCI related co-existing illnesses other than Diarrhea,in 2 months to 5 year age children admitted in a tertiary care unit: Are we realizing the magnitude of problem?

Objective: to calculate the burden of imci related preventable co-morbidities other than the presenting illness in children aged 2 months-5years. settings: diarrhea section of pediatrics department,jinnah hospital,lahore. duration: 2 months,july-august 2010. design: prospective descriptive study included all children aged 02 months to 5 years,enrolled during the study period,and excluding children with very critical illness,short stay not enabling complete history,examination and relevant investigations or those who lama. results: total 509 children were included,all presented with diarrhea and dehydration. 77.4% (n=394) were below 2 years,283 (55.3%) males and 226 (44.4%) females. anemia was found in 55.8% (n=284),rickets 19.6% (n=100),history of passage of worms 15.9% (81%),(table no. 2) and history of ear discharge 12.9% (n=65). regarding the frequency of preventable risk factors of morbidity,lack of complete vaccination was 41.65% (n=212),frequency of breast feeding showed 18.8% (n=96) no and 30.8% (n=157) partial breast feeding,and improper weaning was 43% (n=218). 17.8 almost 87.9% children have been to various health facilities prior to this admission,out of which % to primary health facility,22.4% to secondary,and 47.7% to tertiary health care facility. conclusions: majority children under five years of age have multiple preventable co-morbidities and risk factors for childhood illnesses including anemia,rickets,malnutrition,weaning and breast feeding problems,which are unaddressed and un-noticed.