ISSN:
1432-1076
Keywords:
Diarrhoea
;
Infectious enteritis
;
Food sensitivity
;
Food intolerance
;
Parenteral diarrhoea
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract One hundred and eighteen consecutive cases of childhood acute diarrhoea (mean age: 10.5 months) were studied after admission to our Pediatric Unit in Naples over a 13-month period. A diagnosis was established in 92 patients (78%): 55% of patients were found to have an infectious enteritis (among them, 5 had ETEC infections and 1 had an ST-producing Klebsiella infection), 12% a parenteral infection, 11% cow's milk intolerance. The occurrence of gross blood (P〈0.01), leukocytes, and reducing substances in the stools was more commonly associated with infectious enteritis than with diarrhoea due to all other causes. In 14 patients (8 of whom were malnourished), diarrhoea ran a prolonged course. In all, the eventual outcome was favourable. Our findings, while confirming that infectious enteritides account for most of acute diarrhoeas in children, stress the importance of parenteral infections and cow's milk intolerance in this condition. Also, the need for an accurate search for enterotoxigenicity of enterobacteria before ruling out their pathogenetic role is stressed.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00540253
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