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Acute infectious diarrhea in children

Sibylle Koletzko1, Stephanie Osterrieder

  • 1Abteilung für Pädiatrische Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie, Dr. von Haunersches Kinderspital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. Sibylle.Koletzko@med.uni-muenchen.de

Deutsches Arzteblatt International
|September 10, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Acute infectious enteritis in children is common, but treatment guidelines are often not followed. Oral rehydration solution (ORS) effectively treats dehydration in over 90% of cases, avoiding IV fluids.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Acute infectious enteritis is a prevalent childhood illness globally, particularly affecting children under three.
  • In Germany, one in six children under five consults a physician for infectious diarrhea annually.
  • Rotavirus infection leads to hospitalization in 10% of affected children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current national and international guidelines for treating acute infectious diarrheal disease in children.
  • To emphasize the importance of adhering to evidence-based treatment recommendations.
  • To highlight effective rehydration strategies for pediatric gastroenteritis.

Main Methods:

  • A selective literature search was conducted.
  • The search focused on national and international guidelines for managing infectious diarrhea.
  • Evidence-based recommendations were synthesized.

Main Results:

  • The primary therapeutic objective is to restore fluid and electrolyte balance disrupted by diarrhea and vomiting.
  • Hypotonic oral rehydration solution (ORS) is recommended for impending or existing mild-to-moderate dehydration.
  • Frequent, small oral administrations of ORS over 3-4 hours achieve success in over 90% of cases.

Conclusions:

  • Oral rehydration with ORS is a highly effective treatment for pediatric diarrhea and vomiting.
  • Regular feeding can resume immediately after successful oral rehydration.
  • Intravenous fluid administration should be avoided in children who can be rehydrated orally or via nasogastric tube; laboratory testing is typically unnecessary.
Abstract

Keywords:
diarrheagastroenteritispediatric diseaserotavirusvomiting

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