Hospitalization rates for intussusception in children aged 0-59 months from 2009 to 2014 in Italy

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• The exact causes of intussusception remain unclear, with various associated conditions noted.
• Few European nations have established baseline intussusception incidence rates before rotavirus vaccination, per WHO recommendations.
• Monitoring intussusception rates is crucial for evaluating the impact of rotavirus immunization programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze intussusception hospitalization trends in Italian children aged 0-59 months from 2009-2014.
• To establish baseline hospitalization rates for intussusception in Italy.
• To identify potential risk factors, such as gastroenteritis, associated with intussusception.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of hospitalization data for intussusception.
• Inclusion of 3,088 children aged 0-59 months from 2009-2014.
• Calculation of hospitalization rates per 100,000 children.

Main Results:

• A total of 3,088 hospitalizations for intussusception were recorded.
• The overall hospitalization rate was 20.2 per 100,000 children.
• A slight increasing trend in hospitalization rates (18%) was observed from 2009 to 2014.
• Children aged 0-11 months had significantly higher hospitalization rates (36 per 100,000) compared to those aged 12-59 months (16 per 100,000).
• Gastroenteritis was a co-occurring condition in 7.7% of hospitalized children.

Conclusions:

• Intussusception hospitalizations in Italian children show an increasing trend.
• Younger children (0-11 months) are at higher risk.
• Further research is needed to investigate the role of risk factors like acute gastroenteritis.
• These findings provide valuable baseline data for monitoring the impact of rotavirus vaccination in Italy.