Factors determining recovery during nutritional therapy of persistent diarrhoea: the impact of diarrhoea severity and intercurrent infections
Document Type
Article
Department
Paediatrics and Child Health
Abstract
The recovery pattern and outcome were analysed in 261 consecutive children (age 6-36 months) with persistent diarrhoea who underwent inpatient nutritional rehabilitation with a rice-lentil (Khitchri) and yoghurt-based diet. Overall, 217 (83%) recovered successfully, as judged by a reduction in stool output and weight gain for a consecutive 3 d. Failures were more commonly febrile at admission [odds ratio (OR) 2.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-4.8] and a greater number had culture-proven sepsis (Fisher's exact test, p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis identified significantly increased risk of treatment failure with several admission characteristics, including stool frequency > 5 d(-1) (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.6-5.2), vomiting (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1-5.7) and sepsis (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.1-7.5). Survival analysis revealed significantly longer time-to-recovery among children with stool frequency > 5 d(-1) at admission (p < 0.001), suspected sepsis necessitating intravenous antibiotics (p < 0.001) or oral candidiasis (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that severity of diarrhoea and coexisting systemic infections are key determinants of the response to nutritional therapy in children with persistent diarrhoea.
Publication (Name of Journal)
Acta Paediatrica
Recommended Citation
Bhutta, Z. A.,
Nizami, S. Q.,
Thobani, S.,
Issani, Z.
(1997). Factors determining recovery during nutritional therapy of persistent diarrhoea: the impact of diarrhoea severity and intercurrent infections. Acta Paediatrica, 86(8), 796-802.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_women_childhealth_paediatr/481