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Chapter-25 Acute Diarrhea and Dehydration

BOOK TITLE: Principles of Pediatric & Neonatal Emergencies

Author
1. Patwari AK
ISBN
9788184489507
DOI
10.5005/jp/books/11182_25
Edition
3/e
Publishing Year
2011
Pages
8
Author Affiliations
1. Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India, International Health Center for Global Health and Development, Boston University, USA; MCH-Star Initiative Upper Ground 4-9, Mohta Building, 4, Bhikhaji Cama Palace, New Delhi, India, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital, New Delhi, e-mail: gudu@del6.vsnl.net.in, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital, New Delhi, Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Associated HAH Centenary Hospital, Hamdard University, New Delhi, India, Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, and HAH Centenary Hospital, Hamdard University, New Delhi, India, Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences & Research and HAH Centenary Hospital, Hamdard University, New Delhi, India, Kalawati Saran Hospital, Lady Harding Medical College, New Delhi 110001, Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Hamdard University, New Delhi, India, Hamdard Institute of Med
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Abstract

Diarrheal diseases continue to be one of the major public health problems world over. Oral rehydration therapy, one of the greatest scientific achievements in the last century, has revolutionized management of diarrheal dehydration and led to a significant reduction of diarrhea related mortality from 5 million deaths in 1978 to 1.4 millions deaths annually. However, diarrheal diseases still contribute 13 percent of under five deaths. In India, prevalence of diarrheal episodes in children less than 3 years continues to be as high as 12.7 percent. Frequent episodes of diarrhea in young children and high mortality related to these episodes accord a high priority to diarrhea case management in the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness strategy. Dehydration, the immediate consequence of diarrheal diseases, remains the primary focus in case management. Dehydration is a frequent and a serious consequence of acute watery diarrhea (acute episode of diarrhea lasting < 2 weeks) including cholera, but some cases of dysentery (clinical syndrome characterized by the presence of blood and mucus in the stools, abdominal cramps and fever) and persistent diarrhea (an episode that lasts for 14 or more days, a proportion of these episodes are associated with growth failure) may also present with variable degree of dehydration.

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