A Clinical and Bacteriological Study of Acute Diarrhea in Children with Special Reference to Serum Electrolyte

Abstract

Aim and Background:  Diarrhea is major public health problem in developing countries. An estimated 1.8 billion episodes of diarrhea occur each year and million children under the age of 5 years die of diarrhea , 80 percent of these deaths affect children under the age of two years. The episodes are generally associated with other infectious diseases, making treatment and prevention more difficult. Materials and Methods:  Children under 5 years of age with history of diarrhea of less than 14 days duration admitted to the pediatric wards in Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Research Institute. Methods of collection of data`s by direct questioning and examination of the study group children. Results: In the present study the maximum number of cases belong to the age group of 7-12 months (33%), and the incidence of diarrhea below 2 years was 87%. Conclusion: In the present study we conclude that the Bacteriological study and sensitivity pattern helps us to identify the most prevalent organism in the locality and to select the most appropriate drug and thus reducing the cost of treatment, lsonatremic dehydration was the commonest.