Clinical Study of Acute Diarrhea in Infants and Children

ABSTRACT

Diarrhea is one of the most common symptoms evaluated by pediatrician. In a study of 671 children admitted to the diarrhea from Jan. 1970 to Dec. 1976. The results are summarized as follow 1) Diarrhea patients were total 671 cases(7.7%) among 8711 children who were admitted during last 7 years from Jan. 1970 to Dec. 1976. There was no significant difference in annual incidence. 2) Monthly incidence revealed in summer(Jun. July) and autumn (sep.Oct) frequently. 3) Age incidence showed the highest rate between 6 month to 2 year of age(52.2%). 4) Sex incidence showed that male to female in a proportion of 1.51. 5) potential etiologic agents were identified 332 of 671 children with diarrhea E. coli 21.0%, shigella 7.0%, ameba 7%. In the majority of cases(31.89%) the etiologic agents were not found. 6) Infection in other parts of the body were recorded in 123 cases(18.64%) including common cold, bronchits, pneumonia measles, tonsillits. 7) Initial symptoms of the diarrhea patients were fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, tenesmus, neurologic symptoms. 8) The nature of stool was blood tinged mucoid in shigella, watery and granular stool are associated with enteropathogenic E.coli of Parenteral diarrhea. 9) Most effect chemotherpeufic agent of shigella was ampicillin, and gentamycin was considerable effectiveness against E.coli, with 76.2% showing susceptibility to gentamycin.