Etiologies and Prognostic Factors of Dyspnea in Infants at the University Hospital Center (CHU) of Bouaké (Ivory Coast)

Abstract

Identify the epidemiological characteristics, etiologies and evolutionary aspects of dyspnea in infants. This was a retrospective study of infants hospitalized for dyspnea from January 1 to December 31, 2020. The parameters studied were sex, age, origin, vaccination status, existence of underlying pathology. Underlying, the diagnosis and the evolutionary modalities. Data analysis and processing were possible using Word, Excel and EPI info version 7 software. We retained 152 infants. The sex ratio was 1.34 and the median age was 4 months. Vaccines according to expanded immunization program (EPI) were up to date in 76.32%. The main antecedents with risk identified were malnutrition, hypotrophy at birth, interventricular communication. The pathologies observed were low acute respiratory diseases in 90.79%, ENT diseases in 04.60% and cardiac diseases in 03.95%. The median length of hospitalization was 4 days. Infants who died accounted for 15.13%. The median age of infants who died was 4 months. The median time to onset of death was 1.63 days. The risk factors for death were age < 6 months (p = 0.003; CI [1.27; 9.33]), outdated vaccines (p = 0.012; CI [1.18; 5.17]), history with risk (p = 0.031; CI [1.02; 4.54]). Dyspnea in infants remains a concern in our service. Reducing mortality involves developing procedures for the management of lower respiratory ailments, continuous staff training and strengthening the technical platform.