The aim of study was to assess some population characteristics in children of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) admitted in a regional pediatric hospital.
Material and methods: For the present transversal descriptive study we considered a group of subjects hospitalized for AGE in 2008-2013 (2013--only 6 months) in "Sf. Maria" Emergency Hospital for Children Iasi, Romania. Consultations in the Emergency Unit of this hospital did not take into consideration.
Results: Number of AGE cases admitted to "St. Maria" Emergency Hospital for Children Iasi between 2008 and 2013 has seen a steady decline. Male subjects are better represented (54.1%); largest age group 1-4 years, with 1,827 cases, immediately followed by group 0-1 year (1789 cases); together, the two-age groups account for 93.1% of admissions for AGE. Distribution of cases by seasons showed balanced values, with higher percentages in summer (29.7%) and spring (25.5%). The number of cases is relatively constant and lower in winter, affecting predominantly younger groups (0-5 years) compared to the summer when cases aged 5 to 14 years were admitted more frequent. Most cases presented at admission vomiting (41.2%) and fever (40.7%); the presence of bacterial flora was identified in 82.2% of stool specimens, and blood in 13.4% of cases.
Conclusions: A higher number of education measures should be implemented in urban and rural areas in order todecrease the contamination with pathogenic agents involved in infectious acute gas- troenteritis in children.