Basic epidemiological aspects of acute gastro-enteritis in a regional hospital in Kuwait

Over a 12-month period 1045 children were hospitalized because of acute gastroenteritis. The disease accounted for 26% of admissions and for 20% of the total bed utilization. Prevalence peaked twice (autumn and spring), was low during summer and lowest in winter. Only 20% of children were breastfed on admission and in the great majority of those who were not, breast feeding was stopped under the age of two months. Early cessation of breast feeding may be responsible for the increased frequency of gastroenteritis in very young infants, and should be a cause for major concern in developing countries.