Seasonal Variation of Pediatric Diseases Among Children Attending an Outpatient Clinic in Tripoli, Libya

Abstract

Background: Pediatric diseases show seasonal patterns influenced by climatic, environmental, and population factors, but outpatient data from Libya are limited. Objective: To assess seasonal variation in common pediatric diseases among children attending an outpatient clinic in Tripoli, Libya, and examine differences by season, age group, and gender. Methods: This retrospective descriptive study reviewed 290 pediatric records from Qurtoba Polyclinic between March 2025 and February 2026. Age, gender, visit date, and primary diagnosis were extracted. Diagnoses were grouped as respiratory, gastrointestinal, skin, urinary tract infection, or other conditions. Associations with season, age group, and gender were assessed using chi-square testing and Fisher's exact test with Monte Carlo estimation when appropriate. Results: The mean age was 7.34 ± 3.73 years and 51.7% were male. Respiratory diseases were most common (73.4%), followed by gastrointestinal diseases (16.9%). Winter accounted for the largest share of visits (32.1%) and summer the smallest (17.9%). Respiratory diseases predominated in winter, whereas gastrointestinal diseases were proportionally more frequent in summer. Disease category was significantly associated with season (P < 0.001), but not with gender (P = 0.246) or age group (P = 0.166). Conclusion: Pediatric outpatient diagnoses in Tripoli varied significantly by season. Recognizing these patterns may support seasonal staffing, resource allocation, preventive measures, and outpatient preparedness.