Nalidixic acid in the management of diarrhea enteritis in infants and children (a report on hospital cases)

ABSTRACT

Nalidixic acid was given orally to 50 infants and children, who were hospitalized for diarrhea, ranging in age from a few days to 9 years in a dose of 25 mg. per lb. per day divided into 3 or 4 doses for one week. These patients had not received an antimicrobial therapy prior to the administration of nalidixic acid. However, fluid therapy and symptomatic measures were given as indicatedAn initial blood count, stool examination and stool culture were done on each patient. Sensitivity tests followed isolation of pathogenic microorganisms. Follow-up microscopic stool examinations and cultures were done 3 and 5 days after therapy and again a week laterIn this group of 50 patients under study the following observations are enumerated - 96% were moderately ill- A aerogenes (in 78% of the cases) and pathogenic E. Coli (in 76% of the cases) were the predominating microorganisms, although a combination of more than one organism was commonly noted- These organisms were satisfactorily sensitive to nalidixic acid (77% to 86.8% of the cases)- The clinical manifestation were observed to improve within 3 to 7 days in 94% of the cases- Similarly the microscopic stool examinations cleared up in 96% of the cases- The drug was acceptable orally so that this presented no problem- No untoward effects were noted in the course of therapy nor a week later. (Summary and Conclusions)