Epidemiological and Clinical Profiles of Children Aged 0-71 Months Suffering from Acute Diarrhea at Kalembe-lembe Pediatric Hospital in Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Clément M. Mbadiko *
Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Gédéon N. Bongo
Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Gracia K. Mbuyi
Faculty of Nursing Sciences, Higher Institute of Medical Technique Teaching, Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Landry L. Kemfine
Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nuclear, Radiological, Biological and Chemical Excellence Centre, Ministry of Scientific Research, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Tshiama R. Claudine
Teaching and Administration in Nursing Care, Nursing Science, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Oscar K. Nsutier
Teaching and Administration in Nursing Care, Nursing Science, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Jacques M. Kanika
Teaching and Administration in Nursing Care, Nursing Science, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Teddy B. Ngando
Nuclear, Radiological, Biological and Chemical Excellence Centre, Ministry of Scientific Research, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Jacques M. Bomoi
Nuclear, Radiological, Biological and Chemical Excellence Centre, Ministry of Scientific Research, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Cyprien K. Bamvingana
Nuclear, Radiological, Biological and Chemical Excellence Centre, Ministry of Scientific Research, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
S. N. Mutambel’Hity
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, National Pedagogical University, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological, clinical and etiological profile of children aged 0-71 months suffering from acute diarrhea, admitted at the Kalembe-lembe Pediatric Hospital in 2015.
Study Design: This study used a retrospective design whereby medical records of children aged 0-71 months were used.
Place and Duration of Study: This survey was carried out at the Kalembe-lembe Pediatric Hospital in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo between January 1 and December 31, 2015.
Methodology: This study used a questionnaire to collect information whereby 337 cases of acute diarrhea diagnosed at the Kalembe-lembe Pediatric Hospital were recorded, of which 324 cases were selected. The information was collected on a case-by-case basis by consulting the patient records. Data collected were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 10 while the association measures between different qualitative variables were evaluated using Chi-square test and the p-value was 0.05.
Results: A predominance of cases (60.49%) was observed in children under 12 months and potentially in males (55.24%) while the majority of deaths was recorded in this same age group. The mean age of admitted children was 12.4 months and vomiting was the most reported symptom associated with diarrhea (75.61%), followed by hyperthermia (70.37%). Most of children emitted liquid stools (65.12%) and the average number of stools issued per day was 6 times with extremes ranging from 3-45 stools/day. However, we recorded high levels of identified etiologic agents in children with diarrhea compared to those reported in other countries. The identification of etiologic agents of diarrhea was performed only in 56.48% of cases. Rotaviruses, bacteria and parasites were found in 48.08%, 32.78% and 26.77% respectively.
Conclusion: Further studies are needed to study the antibiotic resistance of these pathogens causing acute diarrhea and identify using molecular techniques new strains of bacteria precisely responsible for acute diarrhea and assess their epidemiological and clinical influence.
Keywords: Epidemiology, clinical profile, acute diarrhea, control, children, Kalembe-lembe, Democratic Republic of the Congo