Intestinal infections.

Gastrointestinal infections are the significant cause of childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide. Gastrointestinal infections reflects the balance between the intrinsic virulence factors of the enteropathogens and host mechanisms which defend against enteric infections. Host defense factors include gastric acidity, intestinal motility, the normal indigenous intestinal microflora, mucous secretion, and specific mucosal and systemic immune mechanisms. Majority of GI infections are self limited so on one hand antibiotics are not needed and on the other hand the irrational use of antibiotics produces resistant strains. Acute diarrheal diseases which are one of the important intestinal infections, in majority of the cases are viral and have short course. Antibiotics are recommended only in specific cases and in immunocompromised individuals. Gastrointestinal disease is one of the most common manifestations of HIV infection. The gastrointestinal tract contains abundant quantities of lymphoid tissue and is likely to function as a reservoir of HIV infection, a site of profound immune dysregulation, and a target for opportunistic infections. In this situation specific antibiotics are indicated.