TITLE:
Epidemiology of Admissions in a Pediatric Emergency Department in Albert Royer Hospital Dakar
AUTHORS:
Aliou Thiongane, Aliou Abdoulaye Ndongo, Amadou Sow, Younoussa Keita, Djibril Boiro, Yaye Joor Dieng, Idrissa Basse, Ndiogou Seck, Lisimo Abwa Hilaire, Papa Moctar Faye, Amadou Lamine Fall, Assane Sylla, Saliou Diouf, Ousmane Ndiaye
KEYWORDS:
Children, Emergencies, Morbidity, Mortality
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.12 No.1,
March
8,
2022
ABSTRACT: Background: Pediatric emergencies are a public health priority
in Senegal. The objective was to describe the epidemiology of admissions to the
emergency department of the Albert Royer National Children’s Hospital in Dakar,
Senegal. Methods: Prospective, descriptive and analytical study over a
period of 4 months (January-April 2020). The study population was children
admitted for vital distress. Results: A total of 300 children met the
inclusion criteria and represented the study population (2.83%). The majority
(70.67%) were younger than 60 months, compared with 2.00% of newborns. Boys
represented 53.8%, sex ratio 1.16. A proportion of 35.1% was referred. More
than half of our patients (55.88%) were
managed within 30 minutes of arrival. Medicalized transport concerned
21.5% against 78.5% of nonmedicalized. Emergencies were dominated by
respiratory distress (56.33%), dehydration (29%) and shock (13.33%). We recorded 16 deaths (5.3%). This mortality
was significantly related to the low socio-economic level (p = 0.000), as well
as the young age of the children (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Life-threatening emergencies are frequent and responsible for significant
lethality. Health policy efforts are still needed to reduce this infant and
child morbidity and mortality.