Assessment and 2-year follow-up of some factors associated with severity of respiratory infections in early childhood.

Objective: To assess the effect of some factors on the severity of acute respiratory infection (ARI) in children.

Design: In a case control study, children with pneumonia were matched with controls who had upper respiratory infection. They were compared in respect of nutrition, household crowding and smoke pollution, and the presence of current viral respiratory infection.

Hepatitis B infection in black children from residential care facilities in KwaZulu-Natal. Implications for adoption and foster care.

Objectives: A study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B infection in selected residential child care facilities in Natal.

Design: All residents at three facilities in the Durban and Pietermaritzburg areas of KwaZulu-Natal were tested for markers of hepatitis B infection as part of a broader health status assessment.

Results: One hundred and ninety-five children between the ages of 3 and 194 months (78 +/- 47) were studied.