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Disease spectrum and management of children admitted with acute respiratory infection in Viet Nam
Author(s) -
Nguyen T. K. P.,
Nguyen D. V.,
Truong T. N. H.,
Tran M. D.,
Graham S. M.,
Marais B. J.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/tmi.12874
Subject(s) - medicine , pediatrics , viet nam , tertiary referral hospital , referral , pneumonia , respiratory infection , tuberculosis , retrospective cohort study , emergency medicine , respiratory system , family medicine , economy , pathology , economics
Objective To assess the acute respiratory infection ( ARI ) disease spectrum, duration of hospitalisation and outcome in children hospitalised with an ARI in Viet Nam. Methods We conducted a retrospective descriptive study of ARI admissions to primary (Hoa Vang District Hospital), secondary (Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children) and tertiary (National Hospital of Paediatrics in Ha Noi) level hospitals in Viet Nam over 12 months (01/09/2015 to 31/08/2016). Results Acute respiratory infections accounted for 27.9% (37 436/134 061) of all paediatric admissions; nearly half (47.6%) of all children admitted to Hoa Vang District Hospital. Most (64.6%) of children hospitalised with an ARI were <2 years of age. Influenza/pneumonia accounted for 69.4% of admissions; tuberculosis for only 0.3%. Overall 284 (0.8%) children died; most deaths (269/284; 94.7%) occurred at the tertiary referral hospital. The average duration of hospitalisation was 7.6 days (median 7 days). The average direct hospitalisation cost per ARI admission was 157.5 USD in Da Nang Provincial Hospital. In total, 62.6% of admissions were covered by health insurance. Conclusion Acute respiratory infection is a major cause of paediatric hospitalisation in Viet Nam, characterised by prolonged hospitalisation for relatively mild disease. There is huge potential to reduce unnecessary hospital admission and cost.