Profile of patients attending pediatric emergency service at Chandigarh.
Profile of children attending in a Pediatric Emergency Unit of an urban teaching hospital over a period of one year was analyzed. The total number of patients seen between September 1999 to August 2000 was 9205; there was a prepondence of boys (73%). The maximum number of patients were seen in the monsoon month of July and August. About half (52.5%) of the patients were infants. Fever (29.5%), breathing difficulty (17.4%) and diarrhea (14.5%) were the most common presenting symptoms. Respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses were the two commonest pediatric emergencies. About 2% (n-198) patients died within 24 hours of hospitalization; 42.3% deaths were in the age group of 0-28 days. Sepsis was the most common diagnosis in patients who died. This information may help in planning and development of a Pediatric Emergency unit and prioritizing residents, training.
D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000453:epidemiology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology