The Impact of HIV on the Profile of Paediatric Admissions and Deaths at Pelonomi Hospital, Bloemfontein, South Africa

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Abstract
In 1999 Zwi, et al.1 reported the impact that paediatric HIV infection had on the profile of paediatric admissions, diagnoses, and in-hospital deaths in a large urban regional South African hospital from 1992 to 1997. Jeena, et al.2 investigated admission and outcome patterns in a paediatric intensive care unit between 1971 and 1995, and found that HIV related syndromes, lower respiratory tract infection, metabolic disorders, septicaemia, and hyaline membrane disease replaced common childhood vaccine preventable infections. In our study we compared the profile of general paediatric admissions and deaths in Pelonomi Hospital, Bloemfontein, during two 1-year periods, namely 1991 and 2001. Monthly statistics compiled by the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of the Free State (UFS) were analysed. For each year the five main admission diagnoses and causes of deaths were determined. The Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences, UFS approved the protocol.