A STUDY OF EFFECTIVE FACTORS ON PERSISTENT DIARRHEA IN UNDER FIVE YEARS OLD CHILDREN

Abstract

To determine the effective factors on persistent diarrhea in under five year old children (UN5), a total of 1341 subjects were selected between cases referred to Sanandaj children hospital for diarrhea in the period between 1st June and 22nd October 1994. The children were questioned for prolongation of diarrheal episode after 14 days of its onset. The investigation showed that the duration of diarrhea was prolonged for fourteen days and more in 103 out of 1341 children (7.7%). In other words, 92.3% of children recovered before 14th days. The incidence of persistent diarrhea was usually greatest during the first year of life (P=0.00). Duration of diarrheal episode in children who were breast fed is shorter than in those who were not breast fed (P=0.00). Inappropriate use of antibiotic may favor the over growth of pathogenic or commensal bacteria in the proximal intestine to persistent diarrhea. Diarrhea became persistent 4 times more in children whose stool was mucus or bloody at the onset than those with water stool (P=0.00).