Acute infectious diarrhea in children.

BACKGROUND

Acute infectious enteritis is one of the more common childhood diseases worldwide, especially in the first three years of life. Every year, in Germany, one in six children under age 5 is taken to a physician at least once because of infectious diarrheal disease. 10% of the children presenting with rotavirus infection are admitted to hospital. The existing national and international recommendations for the treatment of acute infectious diarrheal disease are inadequately followed, despite the high level of evidence on which they are based.

METHODS

Selective literature search based on national and international guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS

The therapeutic goal is to replace the fluid and electrolyte losses resulting from diarrhea and vomiting. The administration of a hypotonic oral rehydration solution (ORS) is indicated to treat impending dehydration (infants aged up to 6 months with diarrhea and/or more than 8 watery stools in the last 24 hours and/or more than 4 episodes of vomiting in the last 24 hours), or when mild or moderate dehydration is already present. Oral rehydration with ORS given in frequent, small amounts over 3-4 hours is successful in more than 90% of cases. Regular feeding can be begun immediately afterward. Laboratory testing of blood or stool is usually unnecessary. Children who can be rehydrated orally or through a nasogastric tube should not be given intravenous fluids.