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[Evaluation of pediatric patients hospitalized for acute diarrhea from 1990 to 1996]
T Casini1, R Cristiano, G Salvi
1Divisione Clinica di Malattie Infettive dell'Università, Azienda Ospedaliera Meyer di Firenze, Italia.
Insights
Infectious diarrhea in Italian children, particularly infants, often requires hospitalization. Rotaviruses were the primary cause, followed by Salmonella, in a 1990-1996 study of hospitalized pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Infectious diarrhea is a significant pediatric health concern in Italy, frequently necessitating hospitalization, especially in infants.
- Understanding the causative agents and clinical presentations of acute diarrhea is crucial for effective management and prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of acute infectious diarrhea in hospitalized children.
- To identify the primary etiological agents responsible for infectious diarrhea in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of medical records (charts) of 1295 pediatric outpatients hospitalized for acute diarrhea.
- Data collected from 1990 to 1996 at the Children's Hospital "Meyer" in Florence, Italy.
- Microbiological investigations to identify causative organisms.
Main Results:
- An infectious agent was identified in 43.3% of the analyzed cases.
- Rotaviruses were identified as the leading cause of infectious diarrhea in this cohort.
- Salmonella spp. were the second most common bacterial cause, and Campylobacter's role as a common pathogen was further clarified.
Conclusions:
- Rotavirus is the predominant viral pathogen causing infectious diarrhea in hospitalized children in Florence.
- Bacterial pathogens like Salmonella and Campylobacter also play a significant role in pediatric infectious diarrhea.
- This study highlights the importance of identifying causative agents for targeted therapeutic and public health interventions.
Abstract:
Infectious diarrhea is a common disorder in children in Italy, which may lead to hospitalization especially during infancy. In order to obtain data about epidemiology and clinic pictures of acute diarrhea, the carts of 1295 paediatric outpatients, hospitalized for this pathology in the time between 1990-1996 at the Children's Hospital "Meyer" of Florence, were analyzed. An offending organism could be isolate in 43.3% of patients; Rotaviruses are the leading cause of diarrhea, followed by salmonella spp. Furthermore the role of Campylobacter as common bacterial pathogen worldwide has been clarified.