Junaid Rashid, Shahid M, Tariq Bhatti, Sumair Anwar, Saira Shaheen, Memoona Jamil.
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?.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;4(4):495-500.

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.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com