Congenital anomalies: hospitalization in a pediatric unit.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the profile of children with congenital anomalies admitted to a pediatric unit.

METHODS

This is a quantitative and retrospective research. The sample consisted of records of children aged from 0 to 12 years old who were hospitalized in the pediatric unit of the University Hospital of Londrina, Paraná, Southern Brazil, from 2007 to 2009. Data were collected by chart review processed in the Epi-Info® program, and they were submitted to descriptive statistical analysis.

RESULTS

There were 282 first admissions of children with congenital anomalies. Of these, 130 (46.0%) required readmission totaling therefore 412 hospitalizations. The mean stay was three days. There was a male predominance, and the age range was from three to seven years old. The most frequent congenital anomalies were in the genital and urinary systems (19.6%), followed by cleft lip and palate (17.3%), and those of the circulatory system (16.2%). There were 269 surgical procedures to correct there anomalies.

CONCLUSIONS

This study underscores the epidemiological importance of congenital malformations, highlighting the need to prevent and control the triggering factors.