Resumen

AURENTY, Lisbeth et al. ANTI-INFECTIOUS TREATMENT OF DIARRHEA IN PEDIATRICS. Arch Venez Puer Ped [online]. 2010, vol.73, n.1, pp.042-046. ISSN 0004-0649.

Diarrheal disease is one of the most common causes of illness and the second leading cause of child death in the world. It claims the lives of nearly 4000 children each day. The burden is greatest in the developing world where access to safe water, sanitation, and medical care are often limited. Viruses are the most common cause of diarrhea (more than 40% of acute episodes). Episodes of bacterial diarrhea are self-limited in more than 50% of cases. There are multiple causative parasites for which there are also therapeutic alternatives. Antiinfective therapy should be initiated early, thus reducing the duration and severity of the disease, preventing complications, decreasing the excretion of the infectious agent and preventing the transmission of the pathogen.

Palabras clave : diarrhea; anti-infectious treatment; viruses; bacteria; parasites.