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. 2013 Jun;3(1):010402.
doi: 10.7189/jogh.03.010402.

Diarrhea as a risk factor for acute lower respiratory tract infections among young children in low income settings

Christa L Fischer Walker  1 , Jamie Perin, Joanne Katz, James M Tielsch, Robert E Black
Affiliations

Diarrhea as a risk factor for acute lower respiratory tract infections among young children in low income settings

Christa L Fischer Walker et al. J Glob Health. 2013 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Diarrhea and acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRI) are leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children under 5 years of age. We sought to quantify the correlation of diarrhea and respiratory infections within an individual child and to determine if infection with one illness increases the risk of infection with the other during the same time period.

Methods: We quantified the likelihood of an ALRI and a diarrhea episode occurring during the same week compared to the likelihood of each occurring independently in two cohorts of children under 3 years of age using a bivariate probit regression model. We also quantified the likelihood of an ALRI episode conditioned on a child's diarrhea history and the likelihood of a diarrhea episode conditioned on a child's ALRI history using Cox Proportional Hazard models.

Results: In Indian and Nepali children, diarrhea and ALRI occurred simultaneously more than chance alone. Incidence of ALRI increased in both cohorts as the number of days with diarrhea in the prior 28 days increased; the greatest incident rate ratio was reported among children with 20 or more days of diarrhea (1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01 - 1.03 in Nepal and 1.07, 95% CI 1.05 - 1.09 in South India). Incidence of diarrhea was affected differently by ALRI prevalence depending on season.

Conclusions: Diarrhea may be a direct risk factor for ALRI among children under 3 years of age. The risk of comorbidity increases as disease severity increases, providing additional rationale for prompt community case-management of both diarrhea and pneumonia.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
In the models for acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) incidence, estimated incidence ratios for categorized diarrhea in the past 28 days, and in the models for diarrhea incidence, estimated incidence ratios for categorized history of ALRI in past 28 days.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Estimated acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) incidence by month and history of diarrhea in past 28 days for Nepali children.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Estimated diarrhea incidence by month and history of acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) in past 28 days for Nepali children.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Estimated acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) incidence by time and history of diarrhea in past 28 days among South Indian infants.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Estimated diarrhea incidence by time and history of acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) in past 28 days among South Indian infants
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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