Most Common Diseases and Conditions that May Result in Death among Children
During the First Month of Life
One of the most common causes of deaths for children during the first month of life is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome SIDS (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), 2017). SIDS is a condition that is sudden and in most cases unexplainable. It is also referred as crib death because it occurs when children are sleeping in a crib. The death is unexplainable because in most of the cases, the child seems to be healthy. The death occurs quickly when the child is asleep. Although research is still ongoing, there are several factors that are related to SIDS. One of such factors that most children who experience SIDS have been previously diagnosed with is brain abnormality. Many babies with SID have abnormalities in the arcuate nucleus (CHOP, 2017). This part of the brain is involved with controlling waking up during sleep and breathing. Therefore, if this part has defects, the child may experience difficulties in breathing and may not wake up. Moreover, brain defects make the babies susceptible to sudden deaths. Events after birth such as lack of oxygen, infection, or overheating may make the child vulnerable to SIDS. Another factor that contributes to the occurrence of this condition is a metabolic disorder where the baby may experience a buildup of acids metabolites that can eventually result in interruption in heart functioning and breathing (CHOP, 2017).
From the first month of life to 5 years of age (≥ 1 month and ≤ 5 years)
The most common causes of death for children between the age of one month and five years include pneumonia, childhood diarrhea, and other acute respiratory infections (World Health Organization, 2017). The primary cause of pneumonia and other respiratory infections include malnutrition, low birth weight, overcrowded conditions and non-breastfed children. Diarrhea is a leading cause of death for children under the age of five years and is reported to cause an approximate of 525 000 children deaths annually (World Health Organization, 2017). Diarrhea causes death by dehydrating the patient hence leaving them without salts and water appropriate for survival. Among the susceptibility factors to this condition include malnourished children and children with impaired immunity. The condition results with the child passing liquid stool at least three times a day. The clinical types of diarrhea can be classified into three which include persistent diarrhea, acute watery diarrhea, and acute bloody diarrhea. According to WHO (2017), the primary cause of diarrhea in children is consumption of contaminated water or foodstuff. The water may be contaminated leading to diarrhea. Other causes of diarrhea include poor personal hygiene, unsafe domestic water storage, and seafood or fish from the polluted water.
- What are the most important risk factors associated with diseases and conditions causing mortality in children ≤ 5 years?
The most important risk factor associated with diseases and conditions that cause mortality in children under the age of five years is malnutrition. A study by Tette et al. (2015) reveals that malnutrition was a major characteristic associated with mortality cases in the study of mortality cases in children. The study also found anemia as one of the attribute or mortality cases in children. Over 70% of the reported mortality cases were related with anemic condition (Tette et al., 2015). The care given to patients with diarrhea should be examined to ensure that the patient does not have other underlying conditions such as mal-absorption, malnutrition or HIV infection which worsen the situation. Based on the study, the risk factors for mortality were identified as the previous episode of diarrhea and malnutrition.
Malnutrition is defined as a condition whereby the body does not have sufficient energy to maintain the necessary body functions such as movement, maintenance or growth (Tette et al., 2015). Malnutrition can be categorized into different groups based on the nutrient imbalance experienced by the patient. As such, it can be micronutrient deficiency or protein energy malnutrition. Malnutrition is divided into two subgroups which include primary malnutrition and secondary malnutrition. Primary malnutrition occurs as a result of inadequate energy intake. It is normally associated with food insecurity whereby there is no enough food for consumption. Moreover, it can also be associated with a poor appetite that may be a result of illness or other eating disorders (Tette et al., 2015). Secondary malnutrition occurs when the children have sufficient dietary intake, but the energy obtained from the diet is not absorbed in the body due to some conditions such as infections associated with surgery, parasitic infections and diarrhea. Malnutrition can also transpire as a result of increased metabolic demand. Other factors that contribute to malnutrition in children under the age of five years include hospitalization (Tette et al., 2015). In most of the cases, the children lose interest in eating when they are hospitalized. As such, they tend to forego meals hence result with malnutrition.
- How may water and sanitation and housing conditions influence morbidity and mortality in children ≤ 5 years?
Diarrhea, which has been previously mentioned as a major condition for children under the age of five years, is caused by poor hygiene, lack of sanitation, and poor housing condition. As such, diarrhea diseases are the leading causes of mortality and morbidity for children under the age of five years in most developing countries. A study by Oloruntoba, Folarin, and Ayede (2015) depicts that the statistics of children diagnosed with diarrhea has remained unchanged for over two decades hence evidencing that less is done to mitigate such conditions in developing countries. The study further states that there is an annual report of 2.5 billion cases of minors below the age of five years diagnosed with diarrhea. The country of interest in the case study is Nigeria whereby there is a daily report of approximately 2,300 children dying from diarrhea which is caused by poor hygiene and sanitation. According to Oloruntoba et al. (2015), 88% of diarrhea cases are attributed to by lack of safe water, poor hygiene, and poor basic sanitation. As such, most of the people in developing countries do not have hygienic toilets hence the fecal waste is carelessly discharged into the environment. Moreover, this fecal waste is not adequately treated hence exposes the people in the environment to bacteria and viruses that lead to diarrhea. Children are more susceptible to the disease causing agents such as Rota Virus and Vibrio cholerae that are present in the fecal waste discharge (Oloruntoba et al., 2015).
Drinking of water contaminated with such viruses and bacteria contribute to diarrhea that has been named as a major killer condition for children below the age of five years. Poor housing condition where the children are exposed to many contaminants in the environment such as living near the dumping sites is another cause of condition that result with high morbidity rate and mortality for children under the age of five years (Oloruntoba et al., 2015). As such, houseflies are involved in transferring the bacteria or virus from the dumping sites into the children’s meals or the environment near them hence attributing to diarrhea conditions. Therefore, sanitation, drinking water, and housing conditions should be prioritized in combating morbidity and mortality cases for children under the age of five years (Oloruntoba et al., 2015).
- Based on the paper by Tersboel, explain how contextual (historical, political and social, etc.) conditions may influence gender identities and the health of men and women.
Based on the paper by Tersboel (2009), political, historical, and social factors in the society affect the living conditions of most people in the society, which in turn affect their health conditions. The paper asserts that men are more affected by the contextual aspects of the society hence tend to be more affected by diseases such as HIV and AIDS. Therefore, the contextual aspects have a negative impact on the gender-based conditions. As such, the HIV and AIDS campaigns should be mostly directed to men as a principal way of combating the killer disease in most developing countries. Tersbøl (2006) argues that men are rarely involved in participation in health programs and development. As such, the paper argues that resources should be channeled towards ensuring that men participate in development and health programs. This is further suggested as a measure of combating HIV/AIDS in Namibia since men are prone to the condition based on the economic and the social disparities they undergo through as evaluated from the migrant workers (Tersbøl, 2006). The primary concern of involving men in this paper is to ensure and enhancement of equitable gender where both women and men will be in a position to protect their general health and both their reproductive and sexual health. Based on the paper, men form a diverse group in different ways as compared to women hence tend to be more vulnerable to most of the diseases involving HIV/AIDS. The HIV/AIDS cases emphasized in this paper aim at assisting the men in analyzing their conditions and situations and evaluated the assumptions they have regarding women (Tersbøl, 2006). Such programs are aimed at helping the men diagnose their experiences as a way of critically evaluating their situation based on the structural violence they experience.
Bibliography
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Oloruntoba, E., Folarin, T. and Ayede, A. (2015). Hygiene and sanitation risk factors of diarrhoeal disease among under-five children in Ibadan, Nigeria. African Health Sciences, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 2-17.
Tersbøl, B. (2006). ‘I just ended up here, no job and no health…’ — men’s outlook on life in the context of economic hardship and HIV/AIDS in Namibia. SAHARA-J: Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS, vol. 3, no. 1, pp.403-416.
Tette, E., Nyarko, M., Nartey, E., Neizer, M., Egbefome, A., Akosa, F. and Biritwum, R. (2016). Under-five mortality pattern and associated risk factors: A case-control study at the Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital in Accra, Ghana. BMC Pediatrics, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 10-26.
World Health Organization. (2017). Children: reducing mortality. [online] Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs178/en/ [Accessed 17 May 2017].
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