الفهرس 
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Abstract
The study included 100 cases of acute gastroenteritis with dehydration (moderate or severe). 56 males and 44 females, aged from 3 months to 2 years, admitted to the pediatric department of Assiut University Hospital during the period May December 1980. 32 of these cases were malnourished.
All the diarrheal cases were divided into 2 groups the first group received hydrocortisone in the first 24 hours and the second group did not receive any steroid therapy. Besides the full clinical evaluation, the cases were investigated initially for serum cortisol, blood glucose, serum sodium and serum potassium levels then repeated determination of serum cortisol and blood glucose wea done after recovery. Ten apparently normal controls of matchable age were examined for serum cortisol, blood glucose serum sodium and serum potassium levels.
Although our control values for cortisol level lied within the international normal range, all diarrheal cases whether overtly malnourished or not, bad significantly higher blood cortisol level. This may e the result of stress of gastroenteritis.