Diarrhea-associated hospitalizations among children in Hawaii.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the burden of diarrhea-associated hospitalizations among children in Hawaii.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of hospital discharge records.


METHODS
Children from 1 month through 4 years of age with a diarrhea-associated diagnosis listed on the hospital discharge record in Hawaii.


METHODS
Acute care hospitals in the state of Hawaii, 1994 through 1997.


RESULTS
During 1994-1997, 2288 children (11.3% of all hospitalizations for children < 5 years of age) had a diarrhea-associated diagnosis listed at hospital discharge. The average annual incidence (per 10,000 children) of diarrhea-associated hospitalizations was 62.3; the incidence was higher for children < 1 year (101.6) than for those 1 through 4 years of age (52.7). Rates for Hawaii were lower than national rates during 1993 through 1995 (US annual rate of 89 per 10,000 children). The median length of hospital stay was 2 days for diarrhea-associated hospitalizations, and 3 days for hospitalizations specifically associated with rotavirus-related diarrhea. Diarrhea-associated hospitalizations were highest during the period December through June.


CONCLUSIONS
Diarrhea is an important cause of hospitalization among children in Hawaii, where approximately 1 in 32 children may be hospitalized by 5 years of age. The age-specific and temporal trends reported here are consistent with those previously described for rotavirus-associated hospitalizations, suggesting that this pathogen is a major contributor to the overall morbidity from diarrhea.
Effler
P V
PV
Hawaii Department of Health, Honolulu 96813, USA.
Holman
R C
RC
Parashar
U D
UD
Glass
R I
RI
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006254:Hawaii / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology