title: Acute respiratory infection, diarrhoea and fever in young children at-risk of intellectual disability in 24 low- and middle-income countries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to (1) estimate the prevalence of acute respiratory infection (ARI) symptoms, diarrhoea and fever in the previous two weeks among 3-4 year old children who are/are not at-risk of intellectual disability in 24 low- and middle-income countries and (2) to investigate possible inequities in access to treatment among affected children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary analysis of Rounds 4 and 5 UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) from 24 low- and middle-income countries (n = 99,934 children).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pooled estimates indicated that young children at-risk of intellectual disability in low-income countries were significantly more likely than their peers to have reported symptoms of ARI and diarrhoea in the previous 2 weeks, and significantly less likely to have received appropriate treatment. Pooled estimates indicated that in middle-income countries children at-risk of intellectual disability were significantly more likely than their peers to have reported symptoms of ARI, diarrhoea and fever during the previous 2 weeks. Symptomatic children at-risk of intellectual disability were significantly less likely than their peers to have received antibiotics/antimotility medication for diarrhoea or antibiotics for ARI symptoms, but significantly more likely to be prescribed anti-malarials for fever.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate the existence of significant inequalities and possible inequities in the exposure to and the treatment of three major infectious diseases among children who are/are not considered at-risk of intellectual disabilities in low- and middle-income countries.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Disability Research and Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, PO Box 170, Lidcombe, NSW, 1825, Australia. Electronic address: eric.emerson@lancaster.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Emerson
authors.affiliation: Family and Disability Studies Initiative, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, 3-66 Corbett Hall, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G4, Canada. Electronic address: amsavage@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Amber
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Savage
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment
keywords: Children; Infectious disease; Intellectual disability; Low- and middle-income countries