AN OVERVIEW OF ACUTE GASTROENTERITIS IN CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Abstract

Acute gastroenteritis represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Young children are affected most frequently, with three to ten episodes of diarrhoea per subject per year, a rate that decreases to less than one episode annually for children over five years of age and adults. Diarrhoeal diseases are one of the leading worldwide preventable causes of death among children under 5 years of age. Almost half of children do not receive optimal acute gastroenteritis (AGE) treatment in Sub Sahara Africa. The presence of blood or mucus in the stool as well as signs of dehydration are important for the definition of diarrhoea regardless of the frequency, volume and consistency of the stool, and diarrhoea is also categorized according to its duration and cause. The factors that increase the transmission of gastroenteritis in developing countries include contaminated water and food, poor sanitation and personnel hygiene, lack of breastfeeding, malnutrition, deficiencies in micronutrients like zinc or vitamin A, crowded environment, and living close to domestic animals. Gastroenteritis mainly cause by three groups of organism, viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Accessible uncontaminated water and good sanitation practices are important for reducing rates of infection and clinically significant gastroenteritis Personal hygiene measures. Children need to be assessed carefully for signs of dehydration, Educating mothers on breast feeding for first six months.