Clinical characteristics of diarrheal disease in suckling children

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: to describe the clinical characteristics of diarrheal episodes presented by a group of children living in the Zona da Mata Meridional of the state of Pernambuco in the first six months of life. METHODS: the study design is a series of cases, including all children monitored within a cohort study carried out in four cities in the Southern Mata Zone of the state of Pernambuco and who, during the observation period, presented at least one episode of diarrheal disease. RESULTS: 264 episodes of diarrheal disease were monitored, which occurred in 239 children. The duration of the episodes varied between one and 31 days, with the median being two days and the mode being one day. A total of 93.5% of episodes self-limited within seven days. Most children had an episode of diarrhea during the observation period. There was a need for hospitalization in 18 episodes (6.8%). No deaths were observed. CONCLUSIONS: the clinical evolution of diarrheal disease when studied in the community is benign, with diarrheal episodes of short duration and leading to low hospitalization rates.