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Incidence and Risk Factors for Severe Dehydration in Hospitalized Children in Ujjain, India

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eMediNexus    07 August 2020

Diarrhea contributes significantly to the under-five childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide.

A new study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health assessed the incidence and risk factors for severe dehydration in children with diarrhea.

This was a cross-sectional study, which was carried out in a tertiary care hospital in Ujjain, India, between 2015-16. Consecutive children aged 1 month to 12 years having “some dehydration” and “dehydration”—according to World Health Organization classification—were eligible. Other signs and symptoms used to assess severe dehydration were capillary refill time, urine output and abnormal respiratory pattern. A questionnaire was administered to identify risk factors for severe dehydration, which was the primary outcome. Multivariate logistic regression modeling was used to detect independent risk factors for severe dehydration.

Overall, 332 children were enrolled with mean ± standard deviation age of 25.62 ± 31.85 months – out of which, 70% were diagnosed with severe dehydration. The independent risk factors for severe dehydration were – child not exclusive breastfed in the first six months of life, history of not receiving oral rehydration solution (ORS) before hospitalization, history of not receiving oral zinc before hospitalization and living in overcrowded conditions.

Therefore, this study identified many risk factors associated with severe childhood dehydration, many of which are modifiable through known and effective public health interventions. It was stated that the promotion of breastfeeding, early identification and treatment of severe acute malnutrition and treatment of diarrhea with ORS and zinc, in the household and community can reduce the risk for severe dehydration. Research should be conducted to identify effective interventions that can modify the identified risk factors. Moreover, the implementation of such effective interventions may substantially reduce the morbidity and mortality of diarrhea in this and similar resource-constrained settings.

Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020, 17, 616; doi:10.3390/ijerph17020616

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