Acute respiratory tract infections in children in Khartoum

Hospital data of the years 1979 to 1990 and case notes for a one - year period were reviewed to determine the pattern and time trend of morbidity and mortality of childhood acute respiratory tract infections [ARI] in Khartoum. About one third of the children's visits and 40% of the admissions to Khartoum Children's Emergency Hospital were due to ARI. Out of 63514 cases admitted with pneumonia, 37.3%, 47.9% and 14.9% were aged under one year, 1 - 4 and 5 - 14 years respectively. 1696 children died giving a mean [SD] case, fatality rate [CFR] of 2.69% [0.71]. The CFR was high [4.04%] among infants and was higher in girls compared to boys in the age group 1 - 4 years