[Comparative study of nitrogen, lipids and energy loss through the feces in children dehydrated by acute diarrhea due to rotavirus and other agents].

With a view to observing if gastroenteritis to rotavirus produced greater carbohydrate malabsorption, we studied 94 male infants, between three and thirty six months of age, with acute diarrhea and dehydration. The metabolic study included the analysis of every intake and excretion during the first 24 hours of oral rehydration and realimentation. Thirty two infants had rotavirus as the single etiological agent, but in numbers it could only be compared to 35 patients in whom we were unable to establish the causal etiological agent of diarrhea in spite of the application of all the usual techniques. No differences were noted with regard to stool and urine losses, nor nutrient intakes of the groups. The present study does not confirm the observation reported in other papers that diarrhea to rotavirus causes a greater loss of carbohydrates.