Srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo 2015 Volume 143, Issue 11-12, Pages: 755-762
https://doi.org/10.2298/SARH1512755R
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Cited by
Acute diarrhea in children
Radlović Nedeljko (Academy of Medical Sciences of the Serbian Medical Society, Belgrade + School of Medicine, Belgrade + University Children’s Hospital, Belgrade)
Leković Zoran (University Children’s Hospital, Belgrade)
Vuletić Biljana (Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kragujevac)
Radlović Vladimir (University Children’s Hospital, Belgrade)
Simić Dušica (School of Medicine, Belgrade + University Children’s Hospital, Belgrade)
Acute diarrhea (AD) is the most frequent gastroenterological disorder, and
the main cause of dehydration in childhood. It is manifested by a sudden
occurrence of three or more watery or loose stools per day lasting for seven
to 10 days, 14 days at most. It mainly occurs in children until five years of
age and particularly in neonates in the second half-year and children until
the age of three years. Its primary causes are gastrointestinal infections,
viral and bacterial, and more rarely alimentary intoxications and other
factors. As dehydration and negative nutritive balance are the main
complications of AD, it is clear that the compensation of lost body fluids
and adequate diet form the basis of the child’s treatment. Other therapeutic
measures, except antipyretics in high febrility, antiparasitic drugs for
intestinal lambliasis, anti-amebiasis and probiotics are rarely necessary.
This primarily regards uncritical use of antibiotics and intestinal
antiseptics in the therapy of bacterial diarrhea. The use of antiemetics,
antidiarrhetics and spasmolytics is unnecessary and potentially risky, so
that it is not recommended for children with AD.
Keywords: acute diarrhea, etiopathogenesis, diagnostics, therapy