[Course of dysentery and the specific alteration of the neutrophils in children in the use of monomycin and a diet with an increased protein content].

Acute dysentery mainly due to Shigella sonnei and dynamics of the neutrophil damage index (NDI) of the blood were studied in 80 children at the age of 1 to 14. 20 children (group 1) were treated with monomycin under conditions of a diet with an excessive content of protein (by 25% higher than the physiological norm). 60 children or 3 groups of 20 children each were not subject to such conditions and were considered as control groups. Reduction in the time of recovery (by 4 days) and bacteriological sanation (by 6 days) of the convalescents in the 1st group decreased as compared to that in the control groups. The test for the NDI of the blood was close in all the groups. It was concluded that an excessive protein content in the diet increased the efficacy of monomycin therapy in dysentery children. It is recommended that the diet with an excessive protein content be used in monomycin treatment of dysentery children.