[Clinical and epidemiological profile of intestinal intussusception among infants of Metropolitan Santiago].
BACKGROUND
Intussusception (IS) is a potentially severe disease that affects an undetermined number of Chilean infants. The withdrawal of a rotavirus vaccine in 1999 due to its association with IS, highlighted the need for updated information on IS worldwide including Chile, before introduction of new vaccines.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate the incidence and to describe the epidemiology and clinical presentation of IS in the Metropolitan Area of Chile.


METHODS
IS cases occurring between 1996 and 2001 in the seven public pediatric hospitals and in six private clinics (during 2000 and 2001) were identified. Incidence rates were calculated using updated population estimates. A systematic review of the medical charts of IS cases occurring in the public hospitals for 2000-2001 was performed.


RESULTS
IS incidence rates for the Public Sector ranged from 32 to 39 per 100,000 children < 2 years of age. These figures did not vary significantly among the different Health Care Services, nor after inclusion of the private clinics. IS was more common in males (66%) and infants younger than 12 months (83%), with 67% of cases occurring between 3 and 8 months of age. The most common presenting symptoms were abdominal pain (90%), vomiting (86%), and rectal bleeding (75%). Ileocolic IS predominated (83%) and surgical correction was the preferred treatment (81%). No death occurred in this series.


CONCLUSIONS
IS incidence rates were intermediate compared to other series, stable over time, and similar between the public and private sector. Clinical characteristics were similar to those previously reported with a disproportionately high use of surgical correction over enema, currently considered the preferred treatment option.
Programa de Microbiología y Micología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago.
Yalda
Y
Lucero
María Teresa
MT
Valenzuela
Miguel
M
O'Ryan
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D016304:Hospitals, Private / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007443:Intussusception / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D014505:Urban Population