Clinical outcomes of children with acute asthma and pneumonia in Mulago hospital, Uganda: a prospective study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Little attention has been paid to asthma in 'under-fives' in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 'under-fives', acute asthma and pneumonia have similar clinical presentation and most children with acute respiratory symptoms are diagnosed with pneumonia according to the WHO criteria. The mortality associated with acute respiratory diseases in Uganda is high but improving, dropping from 24% in 2004 to 11.9% in 2012. We describe the immediate clinical outcomes of children with acute asthma and pneumonia and document the factors associated with prolonged hospitalization and mortality.

Methods

We enrolled 614 children aged 2 to 59 months with acute respiratory symptoms presenting at the emergency paediatric unit of Mulago hospital. Clinical histories, physical examination, blood an

SUBMITTER: Nantanda R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4254222 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature