6533b7d7fe1ef96bd1268460

RESEARCH PRODUCT

A study on oral rehydration therapy of diarrheal disease in Western Sicily

G. BottaA. NastasiCaterina MamminaC. CalcoScarlata GLucia CannovaM. C. PolizziV. AlestraMassenti Mf

subject

DiarrheaDietary Fibermedicine.medical_specialtyPediatricsEpidemiologymedicine.drug_classmedicine.medical_treatmentAntibioticsTherapeutic approachEpidemiologymedicineHumansLongitudinal StudiesOral rehydration therapyAntidiarrhealsChildSicilybusiness.industryPublic healthInfant NewbornInfantAnti-Bacterial AgentsDiarrheaAntidiarrhealsChild PreschoolDiarrhea InfantileFluid Therapymedicine.symptomDiarrheal diseasebusiness

description

A longitudinal study to ascertain the most common therapeutic approach to diarrheal disease by general practitioners and pediatricians was carried out in Western Sicily. Data obtained showed that of 902 home-managed cases of diarrhea observed by 58 physicians during one year, 65.3% were treated with antibiotics, 8.0% with antimotility agents and 26.7% were not treated with any pharmacological agent (rehydration or diet). Although oral rehydration therapy was widely known by physicians in Western Sicily, only a few of them were willing to use it routinely as the principal and exclusive treatment.

https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00239752