Abstract

FERNANDEZ GARCIA, Mercedes et al. Etiology of diarrhea with blood in children under 5. Rev Cubana Pediatr [online]. 2004, vol.76, n.4, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-3119.

Acute diarrhea is the first cause of mortality in children under 5 in developing countries and it is one of the main causes of malnutrition. Diarrhea with blood represents approximately10 % of acute diarrhea. In a year, 960 children under 5 were admitted due to acute diarrhea and 120 (12,5 %) were diagnosed acute diarrhea with blood. These 120 patients were selected and a descriptive, clinical and epidemiological study was conducted, making emphasis on the following variables: age, sex, character of the diarrhea, symptoms at the onset, duration of the diarrhea (related to the possible etiology obtained later), nutritional evaluation according to the National Tables of Weight/Height on admission, and complications. It was proved that 56.6 % were under one year old and 68.3 % were males. The most frequent concomitant symptoms were fever and vomits. 5 % already presented malnutrition on admission. 9.1 % evolved to the persistent form. Salmonella sp was the most commonly detected enteropathogen in the group aged under one . Shigella prevailed in children over one. It was also predominant in both age groups in those children that developed persistent diarrhea.

Keywords : Diarrhea with blood; diarrhea etiology.