Epidemiology of Diarrhoeal Diseases in Khartoum Metropolitan Area

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Abstract
Two hundred and ninety-eight children under 5 years of age suffering from diarrhoea were seen in eight health centres in Khartoum metropolitan area. Maximum incidence of diarrhoea occurred at the age of 6 months to 3 years. The mean age was 1.73 years SD .+-. 1.2 years. There was no sex difference (M:F = 1.1:1.0). The mean duration before reporting to a health centre was 2.89 .+-. 1.9 days. Children were brought to see the doctor after they had passed 8.12 .+-. 4.98 motions. The mean size of a household of these patients was 8.05 .+-. 0.74 persons. Diarrhoea is related to the household size (P < 0.05). Sixty-five percent of patients were from poor or very poor families. Their mothers spent 4.4 .+-. 4.5 years at school. Respiratory tract infections, malaria and malnutrition are the commonest illnesses associated with diarrhoea (26.3, 18.7, and 9.8 percent, respectively). Thirty-four percent of cases of diarrhoea were not associated with other illnesses. Eighty-four percent of mothers continued to breast feed their children during diarrhoea.

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