Household characteristics of children aged under 2 years admitted with lower respiratory tract infection in Counties Manukau, South Auckland
Adrian Trenholme, Alison Vogel, Diana Lennon, Charissa McBride, Joanna Stewart, Emma Best, Henare Mason, Teuila Percival
This study describes household conditions of children admitted to Kidz First Childrens Hospital (South Auckland) with chest infections. There were 580 admissions involving 465 children from August to December 2007. The caregivers of 394 of these children completed questionnaires. Sixty-four percent of admissions had a diagnosis of bronchiolitis and 26% of pneumonia. Longer total stay was more likely in those of younger age, who were premature or of M ori or Pacific ethnicity. Household characteristics demonstrate that 25% live with 22657 other people, 33% live with 4 or more children, 65% of children are exposed to cigarette smoke and 27% use no form of heating. Smoking (exposure to secondhand smoke), lack of heating and large households in overcrowded conditions are well known risk factors for these illnesses in children and these were confirmed in this study.