CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ANTIBIOTIC-ASSOCIATED DIARRHE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD

Abstract

Objective. To determine the clinical features of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in young children, to compare differences between infectious and non-infectious forms, and to assess patterns of fever response, dehydration, and the distribution of key symptoms. Materials and Methods. A total of 140 children aged 1 month to 3 years, hospitalized with clinically confirmed AAD following antibacterial therapy, were analyzed at the Samarkand State Medical University and the Samarkand Multidisciplinary Medical Children’s Center during 2023–2025. Results. Higher body temperatures (38–39 °C and >39 °C) were more frequent in infectious forms. In the Cl.difficile (Cl+) group, meteorism (82.3%), loss of appetite (67.7%), and abdominal pain (53.2%) predominated. In the non-infectious form, mild to moderate dehydration was more frequently observed. Conclusion. AAD in early childhood varies depending on its etiology: infectious forms are associated with a stronger inflammatory response, while the Cl+ phenotype has distinctive clinical indicators. In contrast, non-infectious forms are characterized predominantly by mild to moderate dehydration.