Incidence of intussusception among children 0–5 years of age in Thailand, 2001–2006

To provide baseline incidence data of intussusception among Thai children under 5 years old, outpatient and inpatient records from 2001 to 2006 from five hospitals were reviewed. 112 cases of intussusception were identified, confirmed by either ultrasonography (65%), radiology procedure (32%) or surgery (3%). Common presenting symptoms were vomiting, mucous bloody stool and fever. 50% of intussusceptions were ileocolic in location and 49% underwent surgery. Male to female ratio was 1.7:1 and 86% of cases were under 1 year of age. No deaths were reported. 89 of 112 cases were resident in the study catchment area, for an annual incidence of 19.70–47.83 and 4.36–11.44 per 100,000 children under 1 and 5 years of age, respectively. This is somewhat lower than other regional studies emphasising need to continue and enhance surveillance prior to starting a universal rotavirus vaccine program.