Acute gastroenteritis in the Central Health Region. Belize. 2019-2023

Introduction: Acute gastroenteritis is one of the most frequent pathologies of significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. It can occur at any age, but its incidence is higher in infants. It represents one of the main reasons for consultation in Health facilities in Belize. This article aims to characterize patients diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis according to epidemiological and microbiological variables. Methods: A retrospective descriptive approach was conducted including all patients diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis in the Central Health Region of Belize, from 2019 to 2023. Data was obtained from the Belize Health Information System. Results: Acute gastroenteritis was the second reason for medical attention among communicable diseases, accounting 10 485 cases in the study period. The most affected age group was 1 to 4 years old (1 708 cases), with no differences in terms of sex. The largest number of patients were treated in outpatient and emergency consultations, with only 4% requiring admission. Matron Roberts Polyclinic II and Cleopatra White Polyclinic were the facilities that diagnosed the largest number of cases. The most frequently identified germs in 1 306 patients studied were Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus sp. and Proteus mirabilis. Conclusions: Acute gastroenteritis remains as one of the most common communicable diseases, being more frequent in children from 1 to 4 years old. Only few patients developed complications or required admission. Microbiological studies proved to be useful to identify E. coli as the most common bacterial agent causing gastroenteritis in our sample.