Burden of acute, persistent and chronic diarrhea, Thailand, 2010.

BACKGROUND

The incidence of diarrhea in Thai children under five years of age increased over the last decade while mortality dramatically decreased. To evaluate the effectiveness of MCH services under Universal Coverage Schemes, health outcomes should be performed.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the burden and pattern of childhood diarrheal diseases in Thai children under five.

MATERIALS AND METHOD: The information on Intestinal Infectious Diseases ICD10: A00-A09 was divided into two groups: 1. Infectious diarrhea: A04, A05, A08, A09 and 2. Dysentery: A02, A03. The authors investigated the number of OPD visits, IPD, mortality, length of hospital stay and co-morbidity of severe cases.

RESULTS

The burden of diarrhea was: 3.7 million (1:1) episodes, 756,552 OPD visits (1:5), 124, 403 IPD admissions (1:30), 202 (1:18,460) persistent diarrhea and 48 (1:77, 685) deaths. Diarrheal incidence had two peaks: cool season and early rainy season. Admissions lasted a collective 309,398 days. Diarrhea was persistent in 202 episodes (1.6 per 1,000 admissions) and the associated factors included: age, sepsis, anemia, chronic diseases, malnutrition and HIV. The risks for diarrhea-related mortality included: infant, septicemia and dehydration.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of diarrhea was higher than expected albeit mortality was low. The mortality rate was associated with age under one year persistent diarrhea, septicemia, chronic and underlying diseases.