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Update on prolonged and persistent diarrhea in children

Sean R Moore1

  • 1Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Center for Global Child Health, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. sean.moore@cchmc.org

Current Opinion in Gastroenterology
|September 15, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Prolonged and persistent diarrhea in children significantly impacts global health and child development. Early zinc therapy and specialized diets can improve outcomes, but more research is needed for effective management in resource-limited settings.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Global Child Health
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Prolonged and persistent diarrhea episodes in children are less common than acute diarrhea but contribute significantly to the global burden of diarrheal diseases.
  • These conditions are intricately linked to the cycle of childhood malnutrition, where undernutrition exacerbates diarrhea, and diarrhea worsens nutritional status.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in understanding prolonged and persistent diarrhea in children.
  • To examine the global health impact, effects on child development, epidemiological links, and management strategies for these conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on recent scientific publications and global health data.
  • Analysis of epidemiological links and the impact on childhood growth and development.
  • Evaluation of current and novel prevention and management strategies.

Main Results:

  • Prolonged and persistent diarrhea represent a substantial global health challenge, contributing to childhood morbidity and mortality.
  • Zinc therapy, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), is crucial for reducing illness and death in children with diarrhea, especially in developing countries.
  • Nutritional interventions, such as yogurt-based or amino acid-based diets, show promise in accelerating recovery for children experiencing persistent diarrhea.

Conclusions:

  • Implementing established acute diarrhea prevention and management strategies is essential.
  • Further research is critically needed to improve the recognition, prevention, and treatment of prolonged and persistent diarrhea in resource-limited settings.
  • Addressing these diarrheal episodes is vital for breaking the cycle of malnutrition and improving child survival and development globally.
Abstract

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