title: Stool electrolytes in acute dehydrating gastroenteritis.
abstract: Stool electrolytes were studied in 100 cases of gastroenteritis. The duration of illness was 24-48 hours in 32% and 72-96 hours in 28% of the cases. On stool culture, 43% children had no growth, 23% had Enteropathogenic E. coli and 10% had cholera and rotavirus each. The stool sodium loss was more in cholera and shigella cases, diarrhea of shorter duration and in children between 24-30 months of age. Potassium loss in the stool was more in shiegella cases, diarrhea of short duration and in children between 30-36 months of age. In cases of gastroenteritis with severe malnutrition, stool sodium loss was less; stool potassium loss was not affected by the nutritional status. Total electrolytes lost in stools can be estimated by knowing purging rate and rehydration therapy can be planned accordingly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Raizada
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002771:Cholera / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D003681:Dehydration / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D012964:Sodium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium