Clinical Characteristics and Factors Associated With Severe Outcomes of 1891 Pediatric Patients Admitted to the Referral Cholera Treatment Centers in Lusaka, Zambia, December 2023–March 2024 - Summary - MDSpire

Clinical Characteristics and Factors Associated With Severe Outcomes of 1891 Pediatric Patients Admitted to the Referral Cholera Treatment Centers in Lusaka, Zambia, December 2023–March 2024

  • By

  • Nawa Kalima

  • Tadatsugu Imamura

  • Ilunga Chambah

  • Nyuma Mbewe

  • Annel Sinkala

  • Chalilwe Chungu

  • Khozya Zyambo

  • Paul Msanzya Zulu

  • Kelvin Mwangilwa

  • Muzala Kapin’a

  • Anchingika Mugala

  • Kabaso Mwewa

  • Paul Mashanga

  • Natasha Ngwenya

  • Bob Chirwa

  • Shingo Mitsushima

  • Yuuki Tsuchihashi

  • Taro Kamigaki

  • Aggrey Mweemba

  • Nathan Kapata

  • Roma Chilengi

  • Lloyd Mulenga

  • April 9, 2025

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To describe the clinical characteristics of pediatric patients hospitalized at cholera treatment centers in Lusaka and their impact on outcomes, specifically focusing on mortality and hospitalization duration.

Key Findings:
  • 1.4% of pediatric patients had fatal outcomes (18 out of 1253).
  • 47.9% of patients experienced hospitalization longer than 2 days (399 out of 833).
  • Independent risk factors for prolonged hospitalization included HIV infection (OR 6.89), severe acute malnutrition (OR 10.8), and dehydration treatment plans B (OR 3.93) and C (OR 7.54).
  • Younger age and severe acute malnutrition were positively associated with mortality in bivariate analysis.
Interpretation:

Comorbidities such as HIV and severe acute malnutrition significantly increase the risk of prolonged hospitalization in pediatric cholera patients, while specific treatment plans also influence outcomes, necessitating further exploration of these relationships.

Limitations:
  • The study is retrospective and may be subject to biases in data collection, which could affect the reliability of the findings.
  • Further investigation is needed to identify specific risk factors for mortality and their implications.
Conclusion:

Understanding the clinical features and determinants of severe outcomes in pediatric cholera cases is crucial for improving treatment strategies and outcomes, particularly in addressing identified risk factors in future studies.

Original Source(s)

Clinical Characteristics and Factors Associated With Severe Outcomes of 1891 Pediatric Patients Admitted to the Referral Cholera Treatment Centers in Lusaka, Zambia, December 2023–March 2024

  • by Nawa Kalima, Tadatsugu Imamura, Ilunga Chambah, Nyuma Mbewe, Annel Sinkala, Chalilwe Chungu, Khozya Zyambo, Paul Msanzya Zulu, Kelvin Mwangilwa, Muzala Kapin’a, Anchingika Mugala, Kabaso Mwewa, Paul Mashanga, Natasha Ngwenya, Bob Chirwa, Shingo Mitsushima, Yuuki Tsuchihashi, Taro Kamigaki, Aggrey Mweemba, Nathan Kapata, Roma Chilengi, Lloyd Mulenga

  • April 9, 2025

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