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N-Acetylcysteine treatment of rotavirus-associated diarrhea in children

Carlos A Guerrero1, Diana P Torres, Leidy L García

  • 1Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota, D.C, Colombia.

Pharmacotherapy
|September 25, 2014
PubMed

Insights

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) effectively treated rotavirus diarrhea in young children. NAC administration reduced symptoms and viral shedding, offering a potential complementary strategy for managing this common childhood illness.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Virology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Rotaviruses are a primary cause of severe diarrhea in children globally.
  • Existing rotavirus vaccines have reduced mortality, but alternative treatments are still needed, especially in resource-limited settings.

Observation:

  • Five unvaccinated children (four 12-13 months old, one 5 years old) presented with rotavirus-associated diarrhea.
  • Three children received oral N-acetylcysteine (NAC) 60 mg/kg daily after the first diarrheal day; two served as controls.

Findings:

  • NAC treatment led to fewer diarrheal episodes and reduced fecal rotavirus antigen excretion.
  • Symptoms resolved within 2 days in children treated with NAC.

Implications:

  • N-acetylcysteine (NAC) shows promise as an efficient treatment for rotavirus-associated diarrhea in children.
  • NAC may help prevent severe dehydration, a life-threatening complication of rotavirus infection.

Keywords:
N-acetylcysteine treatmentgastrointestinal infectionrotavirus-associated diarrhea

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