The causes for admission to hospital in the paediatric age are analyzed for the Veneto region of Italy (74 hospitals, table 1). Results are given in tables 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and figs 1 and 2. Respiratory disease is the most frequent cause (25% of all admissions), followed by accidents (17%), gastrointestinal disturbance (13%), infections and parasitic diseases and perinatal problems (7%). These groups of diagnosis accounted for 70% of all childhood admissions. In this part of the country only 39% of admissions were to a paediatric ward. 17% of cases were admitted to a surgical department and 44% to other departments. The hospital grading (regional, provincial and zonal) had a direct influence on the type of pathology admitted. Malformations, diseases of the genito-urinary tract and malignancy accounted for most admissions to regional hospitals. Furthermore, the distribution of admissions in the various departments is influenced by the type of hospital. The commonest diagnosis was tonsillar pathology (54% of all admissions for respiratory disease) and acute appendicitis (55% of gastrointestinal admissions).