Prevalencia de infecciones del tracto respiratorio, tanto superiores como inferiores, en niños menores de 5 años en el área de hospitalización pediátrica del Hospital General del Norte IESS Ceibos durante el período 2024.

Abstract

Introduction: Respiratory tract infections (RTI) are one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population, especially in children under 5 years of age. They are divided into upper and lower respiratory tract infections, the former being more frequent and of viral etiology, while the latter are usually more severe and associated with bacterial infections. In Ecuador, RTIs represent an important cause of infant hospitalization.The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of respiratory infections in children under 5 years of age hospitalized at the Hospital General del Norte IESS Ceibos in 2024. Methodology: A descriptive, retrospective and cross- sectional study was performed, analyzing clinical histories of patients with upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Epidemiological variables such as age, sex and diagnosis were evaluated. Results: The results showed that the highest proportion of patients were 4 years old (39.50%). Common cold was the most frequent upper respiratory infection (39.50%), followed by rhinopharyngitis (31.40%) and pharyngitis (20.80%). In lower respiratory infections, acute bronchitis predominated (45.30%), followed by bronchiolitis (28.60%) and pneumonia (20.00%). An equal distribution between sexes was found, with significant differences in upper respiratory infections. These findings highlight the importance of implementing prevention strategies and timely treatment, especially in high-risk groups, to reduce the incidence and severity of RTIs in the pediatric population.