Gastrointestinal Disease Spectrum and Mortality in Hospitalized Children in Southern Iran

Background: In medicine, especially in pediatrics, it is necessary to perform regular epidemiologic studies in different geographic regions. This study was performed in Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz, southern Iran to determine the gastrointestinal (GI) disease spectrum, the mortality and also the rate of matching final diagnosis with the initial impression in pediatric GI ward. Methods: Of all the children older than 1 month (2731) who were admitted in Nemazee Hospital during one year, 653 patients were suffering from GI diseases. A questionnaire was used on admission and patients were followed till discharge or death. Results: 56.8% of patients were male (M:F ratio=1.31). Patients with GI diseases (except 355 diarrhea cases) were 298 (59.9% male) with an age range of 31 days to 22 years (mean=5.67; SD=5.05 years). Sixty seven percent of patients admitted to GI ward were from Fars Province, southern Iran. The most common GI diseases were hepatitis (9.14%), gastroesophageal reflux (7.66%), intestinal polyp (6.68%), cirrhosis (6.38%) and primary peritonitis (5.47%). Definite diagnosis was achieved in 91.2 % and in 46.7 % of patients it was compatible with the initial impression. While the total mortality rate was 5.3%; this rate was 3% for the patients in GI ward. Conclusion: GI diseases are the common cause of pediatric admissions with low mortality and the final diagnosis is not compatible with the initial one in most cases.