title: [Retrospective evaluation of persistent diarrhea at a primary health service].
abstract: Information about persistent diarrhea is scarse despite the fact that it is a frequent cause of death in children who live in developing countries. The 36,358 pediatric consultations performed at a Primary Health Care Center in Southeastern Santiago in 1984 were retrospectively evaluated. Diarrheic syndromes represented 5.1% of consultations and corresponded to 909 episodes; of these, 6.3% were cases of persistent diarrhea (greater than 15 days). The highest frequency occurred among children under 2 years of age (60.7%). In 68.7% of cases feces were liquid and in 37.5% mucus, pus or blood was present in stools. Persistent diarrhea was more frequent among malnourished patients (p less than 0.001) who, in turn, suffered the greatest nutritional deterioration in relation to the episode of diarrhea. Intravenous fluids were required by 23.3% of patients while 27.9% were admitted to hospital. This contrasts with patients who suffer episodes which lasted less than 15 days, who were all orally hydrated and only 7.8% required hospitalization (p less than 0.01).
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Araya
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baiocchi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Brunser
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pacheco
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies
vernacular_title: Evaluación restrospectiva de la diarrea persistente en un servicio primario de salud.