Author(s)

Nicolas Kinamboli Kangoyangala¹, Augustin Kadiata Bukasa^2*, Honorine Kiala Dimbu², Nene Kabyahura Novi³, Guy Mukendi Kalonji⁴, Amuhima Kasonga Michel⁵, Brigitte Sangbavuleyo Namasini⁵, Emmanuel Bakoyo Akumbasayo⁵, Agnes Tudinange Badibake⁶

¹Department of Pediatrics, Higher Institute of Development Techniques of Dungu, Isiro, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
²Section of Nursing Sciences, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
³Faculty of Health Sciences, National Pedagogical University, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
⁴Section of Nursing Sciences, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Tshilenge, Mbujimayi, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
⁵Department of Gyneco-Obstetrics, Higher Institute of Development Techniques of Dungu, Isiro, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
⁶Section of Midwifery, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Introduction: Severe anemia is an important cause of death in children. An epidemiological and clinical analysis would allow estimating the related morbidity and mortality in order to fight effectively against the causes. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency, profile, and outcomes of severe anemia in children under 5 years of age at the general referral hospital in Dungu. Method: This retrospective, the descriptive study focuses on severe anemia in children aged 0 - 59 months from January to December 2021 at Dungu General Hospital. All admissions from January to December 2017and total deaths, which met the criteria listed as signs of severe anemia, age range 0 - 59 months, causes of severe anemia, and management. Results: The frequency of severe anemia at Dungu General Hospital was 11.1%. The greatest number of cases is observed in the month of May with 50 cases. Male children predominate with 58.4%, the vast majority of children live in the same area as the hospital, i.e. 75.7%; many children are between 26 and 38 months old (31.1%) and 39 to 59 months old (34.6%). Malaria was the most recurrent etiology of severe anemia, 49.6%. The duration of hospitalization varied between one and six days and almost all of them had received management consisting of blood transfusion, antibiotic therapy and deworming, antimalarial drugs, and supportive treatment (antipyretics, analgesics, martial therapy, nutritional treatment, nursing, etc.). With the treatment, 72.7% were cured, while 27.3% died. Conclusion: The implementation of “Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses” at the community level and awareness-raising activities on the use of health services from the first sign of the disease constitutes one of the solutions to this problem.

Frequency, Profile, Outcomes, Severe Anemia, Children 0 - 59 Months

Kangoyangala, N.K., Bukasa, A.K., Dimbu, H.K., Novi, N.K., Kalonji, G.M., Michel, A.K., Namasini, B.S., Akumbasayo, E.B. and Badibake, A.T. (2022) Frequency, Profile, and Outcomes of Severe Anemia in Children 0 - 59 Months of Age at Dungu General Referral Hospital in Haut-Uélé Province, Northwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Open Access Library Journal, 9, 1-13. doi: 10.4236/oalib.1109291.