Community studies of non-hospitalized children are essential
to obtain a more thorough understanding of acute respiratory
infections (ARI) and provide important information for public
health authorities. This study identified a total ARI
incidence rate (IR) of 4.5 per 100 child-weeks at risk and
0.78 for lower respiratory tract infections (LRI). Disease
duration averaged less than one week and produced a total
time ill with ARI of 5.8% and for LRI 1.2%. No clear
seasonal variation was observed, the sex-specific IR showed a
higher proportion of boys becoming ill with ARI and LRI and
the peak age-specific IR occurred in infants of 6-11 months.
Correlation with risk factors of the child (breastfeeding,
vaccination, diarrheal disease, undernourishment) and the
environment (crowding, living conditions, maternal age and
education) showed marginal increases in the rate ratios,
making it difficult to propose clear-cuts targets for
action to lower the ARI and LRI morbidity. The importance
of an integral maternal-child health care program and public
education in the early recognition of LRI is discussed.