[Status and economic losses of respiratory infection and diarrhea of children under 6 years].

Based on the data collected from the CFNSS in 1998, the status and trends of respiratory infection and diarrhea of children and the economic losses caused by the two diseases were analyzed. The prevalence of two-week respiratory infection of urban children under 6 was 23.75% and 21.97% in the general rural, and 26.03% in poor rural. The peak of respiratory infection of rural children was at 6-18 months, but in the urban, that was at age of 3-4 years. Before 2 year of age, the respiratory infection was higher in the rural, and after that age it was higher in the urban. Since 1990, the prevalence of respiratory infection went up and increased 9.5 percentage points over 8 years in the urban, the percentage point of increase was 6.9 in the rural during the same period. In 1998, the prevalence of diarrhea of rural children under 6 was 7.0%, higher than in the urban, which was 4.3%. The prevalence reduced from 9.4% to 4.3% during 1990-1998 in the urban, and in the rural from 13.0% to 7.0%. Weight and height of children with diarrhea incidence were significantly lower than children without diarrhea. Calculation based on the cost for the episodes of the two diseases and the disease prevalence was made and estimate of the economic losses was 11,793 yuan (RMB) for urban, 5458 yuan (RMB) for rural areas.