Conditions Associated with the Risk of Death Within 24 Hours of Admission in Children in Zaria, Nigeria

Background: While infant and childhood mortality rates have remained high in underdeveloped countries, an important aspect of this mortality is the rate of death within 24 hours of admission to a Hospital.
Method: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 202 children who died over a 20-month period.
Results: Eighty one (40.1%) of these children died within 24 hours of admission, with 30/81 (37.0%) of them receiving no drug treatment up to the time their death. A history of convulsion, the presence of severe anaemia, heart failure and impaired conscious level at admission were significantly associated with the risk of dying within 24 hours of admission to the hospital.
Conclusion: Delay in commencement of treatment, most likely caused by inability of parents or relatives to make available drugs for commencement of therapy is a major contributory factor for early death in our Hospital.