What is it about?

The present study analyzed epidemiological changes in the prevalence of gastroenteritis according to age, sex, and month/season wise. Male children were the dominant group in all months, with 61.4% cases of gastroenteritis compared to female children. Both age and season determined the prevalence of disease in children in the Bannu district, as the rate of prevalence of the disease decreased with the increase in age of the children as we shift from ≤6 m toward >10y ≤ 15y, with the highest in the former (37.8%) and lowest in the latter (0.4%). While late spring (April) and early and mid-summer (May–June) and November showed peak prevalence of the disease. Children ≤5 years of age had the largest share of cases (96.4%), and 89.1% of the cases were reported in children ≤ 2 years of age.

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Why is it important?

This is the first study undertaken in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa particularly in its southern part comprising Kohat, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, and Tank districts. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of gastroenteritis/acute gastroenteritis in children in Bannu during February 2019 through November 2019 and to contribute to the policy makers for their future planning of healthcare policies, creating awareness about the disease in the general population, and in adopting preventive measures to reduce child mortality because of gastroenteritis in Bannu.

Perspectives

I am hopeful that this publication will help to create awareness among the general people to adopt hygienic way of life to prevent or reduce the rate of gastroenteritis in children and also contribute to the government strategies to prevent the diseases

Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Khan
University of Peshawar

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Epidemiological studies on gastroenteritis in children in the Bannu district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, Journal of Public Health, May 2021, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1007/s10389-021-01592-0.
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