[Rehospitalization of children]

The aims of the study were to determine the rate of rehospitalization in 1997 a month after the end of initial hospitalization. 72 of 1174 children (6.1%) were rehospitalized. The mean age was 4.6 +/- 3.6 years (range 1 month-16 years). The average duration of the initial hospitalization of the 72 children was 8.3 +/- 6.0 (range 1-50) days, but only 3.6 days for all hospitalized children. The duration of the rehospitalization was 4.1 +/- 2.1 days (range 1-10 days), the interval between the 2 hospitalizations was 11.1 +/- 9.6 days (range 1-30 days). Among the diseases of the rehospitalized children in decreasing order were: respiratory diseases (including ORL) (40.9%), gastrointestinal diseases (27.7%), nervous system diseases, and bacteremia and septicemia (5.6%). Second hospitalizations in connection with these conditions were: gastrointestinal disease (34.7%); respiratory disease (29%); and bacteremia and septicemia (11.1%). Our recommendations are for attending physicians to follow-up regularly and periodically children who suffer from chronic diseases and are prone to develop exacerbations. This should be done in cooperation with hospital specialists so that the cooperation may reduce the rehospitalization of these children.