CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS OF AGE: A STUDY IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL IN WESTERN PARANÁ

Abstract

Respiratory infections are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children under five years, in developing countries. This study investigated the clinical and epidemiological profile of these infections in children at Fundação HospitalarSão Lucas, Western Paraná, Brazil, in 2024. It is an applied, descriptive study with a quantitative approach, using a deductive method and a combination of documentary and field design. Data were collected from medical records, including age, sex, seasonality, clinical diagnoses according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), hospitalizations in wards and intensive care units (ICU), and length of stay. The sample included 7,249 patients, 53.3% male, with a mean age of 21.47 months. Most visits occurred in fall and winter, from April to June. The most frequent diagnoses were nasopharyngitis, tonsillitis, and sinusitis. There were 173 hospitalizations (2.4%), with an average stay of 4.5 days in wards and 10 days in the ICU. Pneumonia and bronchiolitis were the main causes of admission. Respiratory syncytial virus and rhinovirus were the most common pathogens. Respiratory infections represent a significant healthcare demand, with predominance of upper respiratory tract infections and seasonal peaks in fall, emphasizing the need for continuous surveillance and preventive strategies for vulnerable populations.