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Published on: July 28, 2023
Diarrhea in neonatal intensive care unit.
Annalisa Passariello1, Gianluca Terrin, Maria Elisabetta Baldassarre
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, 80131, Italy.
World Journal of Gastroenterology
|June 3, 2010
Summary
Diarrhea in newborns is uncommon but serious, with food allergies and infections being frequent causes. Developing specific guidelines is crucial for managing this challenging condition in neonates.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Clinical Epidemiology
Background:
- Diarrhea in newborns presents unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
- Understanding the incidence and causes of neonatal diarrhea is essential for effective care.
- Current management strategies require evaluation to improve outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of diarrhea in hospitalized newborns.
- To identify the various etiologies contributing to neonatal diarrhea.
- To assess current management approaches and clinical outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective, nationwide study analyzed data from 5801 neonates in intensive care units over three years.
- Data collected included medical history, demographics, diarrhea characteristics, nutritional and therapeutic management, and outcomes.
- Etiological factors were investigated for identified cases of diarrhea.
Main Results:
- The incidence of diarrhea was 6.72 per 1000 hospitalized newborns, with 39 cases identified (36 acute, 3 chronic).
- Identified etiologies included food allergy (20.5%), gastrointestinal infections (17.9%), and antibiotic-associated diarrhea (12.8%).
- Mortality was 7.7%, and 48.7% of patients received enteral rehydration.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal diarrhea is a complex condition with diverse causes and potentially severe consequences.
- Heterogeneous etiologies necessitate tailored management approaches.
- Development of specific clinical guidelines is recommended to optimize the care of neonates with diarrhea.
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