ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Hospital morbidity studies allow us to draw the hospital pathological profile of a region and to follow its evolution. This study aims to describe the profile and the main trends of pediatric diseases within public structures in the region of Monastir between 2000 and 2010. MATERIEL AND METHODS: A descriptive study which concerns all pediatric hospitalizations of public structures in the region of Monastir between 2000 and 2010. Informations were collected from the regional register of hospital morbidity implanted at the Department of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology of the University Hospital of Monastir. RESULTS: A total of 52.443 hospitalizations were collected between 2000 and 2010 with a means annual hospitalization rate of 3,9 %. The mean age was 7,2 ± 5,4 years and 15,3 % had not exceeded the first year of life. Major diagnostic categories (MDC) were dominated by diseases of the digestive and respiratory systems with 14,4 and 14 % respectively. Main chronological trends have shown that the rate of childhood asthma rise significantly from 0,2 %. in 2000 to 2,5 %. in 2010 and Hydatid Cyst whose rate increased also from 0,2 %. in 2000 to 1,8 %. in 2010 (P < 0,05). CONCLUSION: This morbidity profile incites managers to focus their efforts to improve the management of most important diseases.