Open AccessEpidemiology of acute lower respiratory tract infection hospitalizations in Thai children: A 5‐year national data analysis
Author(s) -
Sitthikarnkha Phanthila,
Uppala Rattapon,
Niamsanit Sirapoom,
Sutra Sumitr,
Thepsuthammarat Kaewjai,
Techasatian Leelawadee,
Teeratakulpisarn Jamaree
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
influenza and other respiratory viruses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.743
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1750-2659
pISSN - 1750-2640
DOI - 10.1111/irv.12911
Subject(s) - medicine , bronchiolitis , pneumonia , epidemiology , pediatrics , incidence (geometry) , respiratory tract infections , mortality rate , lower respiratory tract infection , intensive care medicine , respiratory system , physics , optics
Background Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are the most common cause for hospitalization in pediatric patients. Pediatric patients with LRTIs are at an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The national data analysis of epidemiologic variations facilitates awareness and develops solutions to prevent these conditions in the future. Objective This study aims to evaluate the epidemiology, causative pathogens, morbidity, and mortality of LRTIs in pediatric patients of Thailand from 2015 to 2019. Methods This was a retrospective study among pediatric patients aged between 0 and 18 years old admitted in hospitals due to LRTIs in Thailand from January 2015 to December 2019. The data were extracted from National Health Security Office using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision, Thai Modification; ICD‐10‐TM of J09 to J22. Results A total of 1,423,509 children hospitalized due to LRTIs were identified. Most of the patients were of age 1–5 years. Pneumonia was the most common LRTI (876,557 children, 61.58%) in hospitalized children. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the main etiologic pathogen of bronchiolitis, which presents in approximately 10.86% of all episodes. Influenza viruses were found predominantly in children with pneumonia (15.52%). The mortality rate since 2015–2019 was highest in pneumonia under 1 year old ( P < 0.001). Pneumonia in children under 5 years old had the highest mortality rate, which accounted for 11.85 per 100,000 children in 2019. Conclusions LRTIs had a high incidence rate of hospitalization and mortality, especially in children under 5 years old. Influenza virus was the most common pathogen of pneumonia.