Clinical and epidemiological profile of deaths at pediatric emergency department of general reference hospital malemba, democratic republic of Congo

Objective: analyze clinically and epidemiologically deaths at pediatric emergency department of Hopital General de Reference Malemba. Patients and Methods: The present study was retrospective descriptive of deaths occured at pediatric emergency department of Hopital General de Reference Malemba during a six months’period (September 2018 –February 2019).88 cases have been registered. Some variables analyzed such as age, complaint, retained diagnostic, clinical findings. Results: The mortality rate was 9,7% with most of the deaths under 5 years of age; 46% between 1-11 months. Fever and cough or another respiratory symptom constituted most of the complaints. Signs of anemia, respiratory distress and general state alteration were found in more than 50 per cent of the death cases. Severe Malaria and acute respiratory infections were evoked in almost all the cases.75 per cent were transfused, received injectable antimalarial and some received IV antibiotics. Conclusion : Many deaths could have been avoided with early visits at the emergency department, systematic antimalarial therapy for those children with fever and cough, diarrhea-vomiting, difficulty eating, general state alteration during the rainy season; supervision of caregiving facilities official and non-official alike from those who define healthcare policy, satisfying vaccination coverage.