Age Distribution of Hospital Admissions for Respiratory Tract Infections in Children: A Retrospective Single-Centre Study from Tobruk Medical Center

Background: Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are a common cause of hospital admission in children, particularly during early life. Understanding age-related patterns of admission may help inform healthcare planning and preventive strategies. Objective: To describe the age distribution of pediatric hospital admissions for respiratory tract infections at Tobruk Medical Center, with particular focus on children under two years of age. Methods: This retrospective single-center study reviewed 157 pediatric hospital admissions with a diagnosis of respiratory tract infection at Tobruk Medical Center. Patients were divided into two age groups: children younger than 2 years and those aged 2 years or older. Admission frequencies and proportions were described for both groups. Results: Of the 157 pediatric hospital admissions reviewed, 110 (70.1%) occurred in children younger than 2 years, while 47 (29.9%) occurred in children aged 2 years or older. Children younger than 2 years therefore accounted for more than two-thirds of all RTI admissions in this hospital-based sample. Conclusion: In this hospital-based sample, admissions for respiratory tract infections were predominantly concentrated among children younger than 2 years. This finding is consistent with previous evidence and highlights the importance of targeted preventive measures and early clinical attention for this age group. Further studies using broader datasets are needed to better understand the factors associated with this pattern.