Intussusception among Japanese children: an epidemiologic study using an administrative database

BMC Pediatr. 2012 Mar 22:12:36. doi: 10.1186/1471-2431-12-36.

Abstract

Background: The epidemiology of intussusception, including its incidence, can vary between different countries. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of childhood intussusception in Japan using data from a nationwide inpatient database.

Methods: We screened the database for eligible cases ≤ 18 years of age, who were coded with a discharge diagnosis of intussusception (International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision: K-561) between July to December in 2007 and 2008. We then selected cases according to Level 1 of the diagnostic certainty criteria developed by the Brighton Collaboration Intussusception Working Group. We examined the demographics, management, and outcomes of cases, and estimated the incidence of intussusception.

Results: We identified 2,427 cases of intussusception. There were an estimated 2,000 cases of infantile intussusception annually in Japan, an incidence of 180-190 cases per 100,000 infants. The median age at diagnosis was 17 months, and two-thirds of the patients were male. Treatment with an enema was successful in 93.0% of cases (2255/2427). The remainder required surgery. Secondary cases accounted for 3.1% (76/2427). Median length of hospital stay was 3 days. Of the 2,427 cases, we found 2 fatal cases associated with intussusception.

Conclusions: This is currently the largest survey of childhood intussusception in Asia using a standardized case definition. Our results provide an estimate of the baseline risk of intussusception in Japan, and it is higher than the risk observed in other countries.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Enema / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Intussusception / complications
  • Intussusception / epidemiology*
  • Intussusception / therapy
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Length of Stay
  • Male
  • Risk