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School absenteeism after upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in children
S Treepongkaruna1, K Lee, D Giltinan
1Department of Gastroenterology and Clinical Nutrition, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
|June 10, 2000
Summary
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in children often causes discomfort and leads to school absence. Most children return to school by the second day after the procedure.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Outpatient Procedures
Background:
- Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is frequently performed as a day procedure in children.
- The functional impact of this procedure on children's daily activities, specifically school attendance, requires further examination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the functional impact of pediatric upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.
- To investigate the relationship between the procedure and subsequent school attendance in children.
Main Methods:
- Prospective recording of symptoms and morbidities in school-aged children post-endoscopy.
- Utilizing a structured questionnaire for data collection during hospital observation and for 3 days at home.
- Identifying specific reasons for school absence.
Main Results:
- Sixty children (mean age 10.6 years) participated.
- Symptom prevalence was high: 68.3% on the same day, 56.7% on day 1, and 20% on day 2.
- 48.3% of children missed school the day after endoscopy, primarily due to physical discomfort, with most returning by day 2.
Conclusions:
- Physical discomfort and school absenteeism are common sequelae of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in pediatric patients.
- The findings highlight the need to consider post-procedure recovery time for children undergoing endoscopy.