title: Causes of hospitalization among extra-European Union children in a large hospital of Northern Italy, in a five-year observation period.
abstract: The hospitalizations of 1,239 patients aged 14 years or less and immigrated from extra-European Union countries in Italy were assessed in the 6-year period, from 1999 to 2004. The main demographic and clinical features were analyzed according to several variables, also distiguishing patients aged less than one year, from those aged 1-14 years. The introduction of a deed of indemnity law in 2001 profoundly changed the pattern of admissions and health care needs and exploitation during subsequent years, leading to a massive regularization of clandestine immigrants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, 'Alma Mater Studiorum' University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabbatani
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baldi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manfredi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies