Clinical Profile and Predictors of Severe Illness in young South African Infants (

Background Most childhood deaths occur in the first two months of life. Simple symptoms and signs that reliably indicate the presence of severe illness, warranting urgent hospital management are of major public health importance. Objectives: To describe the disease profile of sick young infants aged 0-59 days presenting to King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, South Africa and to assess the association between clinical features assessed by primary health workers and the presence of severe illness. Methods: Specific clinical signs were evaluated in young infants by a health worker (nurse), using a standardized list. These signs were compared to an assessment by an experienced pediatrician for the need for urgent hospital-based or clinic-based care. Results: 925 young infants were enrolled; 6