Gastroenteritis in young children
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Date
Authors
Wittenberg, Dankwart F.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Health and Medical Publishing Group
Abstract
Acute diarrhoea is due to intestinal infection. The patient ingests a pathogen that has contaminated water, food, drink, toys or anything that can be placed
in the mouth. An inadequate and unsafe water supply and poor application and practise of hygiene lead to faecal contamination.
The most important complication is dehydration, with a poor correlation between the clinical features and actual dehydration. The management of the dehydrated patient depends on a careful assessment of the state of the circulation and the need for resuscitation. In most instances, oral rehydration is appropriate and fully effective if the solution is offered in small quantities at
a time. Normally-nourished infants do not require modification of their feeds, beyond adapting the quantity offered as tolerated, but if diarrhoea persists there is a risk of intestinal mucosal damage with
malabsorption and nutritional consequences.
Description
Keywords
Gastroenteritis, Children
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Wittenberg, DF 2007, 'Gastroenteritis in young children', SA Pharmaceutical Journal, vol. 74, no. 5, pp. 22, 24-25, 28. [http://www.sapj.co.za]