School absenteeism after upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in children

Background and Aims: To examine the functional impact of upper gastrointest inal endoscopy as a day procedure, particularly in relation to subsequent s chool attendance. Methods: Symptoms and morbidities were prospectively recorded from school-a ged children during observation in hospital and for 3 days at home after en doscopy by using a structured questionnaire. Reasons for school absence wer e identified. Results: Sixty children (31 boys, 29 girls) were enrolled in the study (mea n age 10.6 +/- 2.8 years, range 6.1-16.2 years). Following the procedure, s ymptoms were reported at home in 68.3% (same day), 56.7% (day 1) and 20% (d ay 2). The commonest symptoms were sore throat, tiredness and dizziness. Tw enty-nine children (48.3%) did not attend school on the day following the p rocedure but most (26 of 29) had returned to school by the second day. The main reason for their absence was residual physical discomfort related to t he procedure (55.2%). Conclusions: Persisting physical discomfort and school absenteeism are comm on following upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in children. (C) 2000 Blackwe ll Science Asia Pty Ltd.