TITLE:
Frequency, Profile, and Outcomes of Severe Anemia in Children 0 - 59 Months of Age at Dungu General Referral Hospital in Haut-Uélé Province, Northwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo
AUTHORS:
Nicolas Kinamboli Kangoyangala, Augustin Kadiata Bukasa, Honorine Kiala Dimbu, Nene Kabyahura Novi, Guy Mukendi Kalonji, Amuhima Kasonga Michel, Brigitte Sangbavuleyo Namasini, Emmanuel Bakoyo Akumbasayo, Agnes Tudinange Badibake
KEYWORDS:
Frequency, Profile, Outcomes, Severe Anemia, Children 0 - 59 Months
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.9 No.10,
October
17,
2022
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Severe anemia is an important cause of death in children. An epidemiological and clinical analysis would allow estimating the related morbidity and mortality in order to fight effectively against the causes. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency, profile, and outcomes of severe anemia in children under 5 years of age at the general referral hospital in Dungu. Method: This retrospective, the descriptive study focuses on severe anemia in children aged 0 - 59 months from January to December 2021 at Dungu General Hospital. All admissions from January to December 2017and total deaths, which met the criteria listed as signs of severe anemia, age range 0 - 59 months, causes of severe anemia, and management. Results: The frequency of severe anemia at Dungu General Hospital was 11.1%. The greatest number of cases is observed in the month of May with 50 cases. Male children predominate with 58.4%, the vast majority of children live in the same area as the hospital, i.e. 75.7%; many children are between 26 and 38 months old (31.1%) and 39 to 59 months old (34.6%). Malaria was the most recurrent etiology of severe anemia, 49.6%. The duration of hospitalization varied between one and six days and almost all of them had received management consisting of blood transfusion, antibiotic therapy and deworming, antimalarial drugs, and supportive treatment (antipyretics, analgesics, martial therapy, nutritional treatment, nursing, etc.). With the treatment, 72.7% were cured, while 27.3% died. Conclusion: The implementation of “Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses” at the community level and awareness-raising activities on the use of health services from the first sign of the disease constitutes one of the solutions to this problem.