Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: Children are more susceptible to get infected to variety of pathogens. Upper respiratory tract infections are the most common group of illnesses in young children. Children with recurrent illnesses are of great concern for parents and influence their family interactions. The present study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of upper respiratory tract infection in children. Materials & Methods: This study was conducted in the department of pediatrics in 2012. Children age ranged 1-5 years were enrolled in this study. Children who had recurrent upper respiratory tract infections were selected and put in group I (50). Those who had some other complaint except upper respiratory tract infections were put in group II (50) (control). All parents were asked to fill out the questionnaire. Both groups were recruited in a 3 month period between January 2012 to March 2012. All patients were measured for weight, height, and body mass index. Results:  The prevalence rate was 50%. In group I, all 50 children had both the parents while in group II, 49 children had both parents. 1 children had 1 divorced parent in group II. Average children in a family was 1.7 in group I and 2.3 in group II. Group I constituted 20.11% and group II 13.4% of allergic constitution. URTI in group I had 18.6 days a month and 7.4 days a month in group II. Group I had 7.1 days and group II had 1.3 days of average fever in a month. Average antibiotic use was 2.4 days in group I and 0.5 day in group II. The average days of hospitalization in group I was 10 days and in group II, it was 5 days.  All parents of 50 children in group I were worried about their children while in group II only 22 children parents were found worrying about their children. The difference was significant (P-0.01). 12 children in group I and 1 children in group II were tired when they were not well. The difference was significant (P-0.02). When parent are worried about their children, their worriness was taken away by either nobody in group I (0) and group II (5), buy spouse in group I (32) and group II (30), by consulting pediatrician in group I (30) and group II (7), by buying medication in group I (45) and group II (20), By keeping child in house or on bed in both the groups. The difference was significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Author concluded that upper respiratory tract infection is common among children. Proper care of children is necessary as this age group is more likely to get infected. Parents of children found more worried about he health of their children who had upper respiratory tract infection as compared to parents of children who had some other complaint.
Key words: recurrent, upper respiratory tract infection, worried parents