title: [Clinical features of giardiasis in different age groups of pediatric in-patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been suggested that the clinical features of giardiasis might vary in patients of different age groups.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare clinical presentation of giardiasis in children less than 5 years of age and older children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of patients hospitalized with giardiasis during 2007 was performed. The clinical features of the two age groups were compared. Additionally, length of stay was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 170 patients were included. In children ≥ 5 years of age, abdominal pain and urticaria were significantly more frequent (OR=9.46; 95%CI: 4.35-20.52,P5=0.000+ and OR=11.0; 95%CI: 1.205-101.11, P=0.023, respectively). Diarrhoea was more frequently found in children younger than 5 years (OR=6.45; IC 95%: 3. 12-13.37, P=0.000+). The frequencies of other symptoms were similar. Length of stay was significantly higher in children under 5 years of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical presentations differed in some aspects among the examined age group of our paediatric patients. Our finding might be of importance for an early recognition of giardiasis, which is essential for an accurate diagnosis and a prompt treatment.
authors.affiliation: Centro Municipal de Higiene, Epidemiología y Microbiología, La Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Almirall
authors.forename: Maydel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alfonso
authors.forename: Ivonne
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ávila
authors.forename: Yohana
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.forename: Angel A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Escobedo
authors.forename: Fidel A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Núñez
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cimerman
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003462:Cuba / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons