Clinical and demographic profile of paediatric patients presenting with acute diarrhea

Background: Diarrhea is a public health problem globally, being the 2nd leading cause of death in children under 5 years. Dehydration as well as malnutrition are also serious consequences of diarrhea. This study was carried out with an aim to focus on the clinical and demographic profile of diarrheal patients of pediatric age.Methods: Infants and children aged 6 months to 5 years were analysed for age and gender distribution, chief complaints, feeding practices, nutritional status and assessment of dehydration; from January 2018 to June 2019 in the Department of Pediatrics of a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital.Results: Total 150 patients were analysed. Almost 50.67% group A and 41.34% group B patients belonged to toddlerhood. Male preponderance was also noted. Along with diarrhea, vomiting was noted in 22 group A and 21 group B and fever in 19 group A and 29 group B patients. Approximately 41-45% patients had no malnutrition and 55-60% had no dehydration in both the study groups.Conclusions: There is lack of awareness regarding dog bite and its management among the rural people fever and vomiting were most frequently associated with diarrhea. A little less than half of the study participants had some-dehydration. Nearly half of the patients belonged to toddler age group. Majority of the patients were exclusively breast-fed for six months.