Introduction:

Bloody diarrhea is a common reason for hospital admission in children with acute gastroenteritis; In most cases these are mild and self-limiting infections, but serious complications can occur.

Goals:

To describe the etiology and clinical-evolutionary characteristics of children under 15 years of age hospitalized for bloody diarrhea at the Pediatric Hospital, Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell between the years 2012-2023.

Materials and methods:

Retrospective study through review of histories and laboratory records. Variables: demographics, nutritional status, hydration, reason for hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, enteropathogens, treatments, evolution.

Results:

229 children were included, median age 8 months; male sex 61%; eutrophic 88%, well hydrated 55%, with comorbidities 11%, prematurity 6.5%. The reason for hospitalization was bloody diarrhea/dysentery without other symptoms 45%. Coprovirological/coproculture was requested in 98% and detection by nucleic acid techniques in fecal matter was requested in 5,2%. At least one pathogenic agent was identified in 34,3%: Shigella sp. 38%; Salmonella sp 19,5%; coinfections in 12%. Antibiotics were indicated for 86%; ceftriaxone 62%, azithromycin 35%.

Were admitted to the ICU 6,5% (15), 10/14 had complications, 5 had acute kidney failure and 3 had alterations in the internal environment. The majority had a good evolution.

Conclusions:

Bloody diarrhea/dysentery continues to be an important cause of hospitalization, affecting mostly healthy children under 5 years of age. The most frequently detected pathogens were bacteria, mainly Shigella sp., Salmonella sp. and diarrheagenic E coli. High prescription of antibiotics was reported, complying in most cases with the recommendations.

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