Malabsorption syndrome belongs to the group of disorders of various aetiology, which eventually lead to identical or similar clinical symptoms and biological consequences. The aim of the study was a comparative analysis of the frequency and causes of malabsorption syndrome in 1980-1986 and 1994-1997. Subjects with malabsorption syndrome accounted for 10% of all hospitalised patients in the years 1980-1986 and they constituted 1.03% of all hospitalised persons between 1994 and 1997. Girls and children from the countryside prevailed in both time periods. In 1980-1986, only 47.8% children were breast-fed, while this number increased to 68.9% in 1994-1997. In 1980-1986, the first symptoms of the disease were usually observed as early as during the first 6 months of life, while in 1994-1997, the disease manifested itself in children over 1 year of age. Clinical symptoms which were the reasons for hospitalisation in both analysed time intervals included mainly low body mass or absence of weight gain, lack of appetite, vomiting, loose abundant fetid stools with undigested contents, paleness, increased circumference of the abdomen, signs of rickets, personality disorders. Coeliac disease was diagnosed in 29.5% children in 1980-1986 and secondary malabsorption syndrome was observed in 37.3% in the same time interval. Between 1994 and 1997, coeliac disease was diagnosed in 53.3% children and secondary malabsorption syndrome - in 46.7%. The most frequent cause of secondary malabsorption syndrome was urinary tract infection in both analysed time intervals. The improvement of epidemiological conditions (popular and prolong period of breast feeding, delayed introduction of gluten to child's diet, careful administration of antibiotics) have an important effect on lower frequency of secondary malabsorption syndrome.

Keywords: malabsorption syndrome, children