Case-control study on intestinal intussusception: implications for anti-rotavirus vaccination.

BACKGROUND

Intussusception represents the most common cause of abdominal emergency among young children but nearly 75% of cases are still considered idiopathic.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A case-control study was conducted among Sicilian children aged 0-59 months with a hospital admission for intussusception between 2009 and 2015 to identify factors associated with intussusception onset.

RESULTS

Overall, 125 cases and 190 controls were recruited for the study. Birth order (OR 1.49, 95%CI: 1.10, 2.02, P = 0.02) and having had gastroenteritis or having taken antibiotics during the 30 days prior to hospitalization (OR 11.55, 95%CI: 3.23, 41.23, P < 0.001; 3.09, 95%CI: 1.17, 8.12, P = 0.009, respectively) were significantly associated with intussusception. On the other hand, exclusive breastfeeding for at least two months was a protective factor (OR 0.48, 95%CI: 0.23, 0.99, P = 0.009). Anti-rotavirus vaccination did not correlate with risk of intussusception (OR 0.96, 95% CI: 0.41, 2.25, P = 0.92).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings increase the awareness of intussusception among clinical and public health service providers to obtain a better susceptibility profile. Moreover, identifying children at higher risk of intussusception could be useful in vaccination counselling to intercept early symptoms and to reduce the number of serious cases.