Acute Gastroenteritis (AGE) in Children Under 5 Years Old in “Hamadou Houcine Sidi Ali Hospital” Mostaganem.

Abstract

Among children under five, acute gastroenteritis continues to be a major cause of hospitalization and morbidity, particularly in developing nations. Finding the primary causes, signs, and risk factors of acute gastroenteritis in children was the goal of this study. Between April and May 2025, a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at Sidi Ali Mostaganem Hospital. Information about sociodemographic and environmental factors was gathered from parental questionnaires. The results showed that viral gastroenteritis was the most common, with fever, vomiting, and diarrhea as dominant symptoms. Most affected children were under 2 years old, and contributing factors included lack of breastfeeding, poor hygiene, and consumption of unsafe water. To lessen the burden of this illness, the results emphasize the necessity of preventive measures like better hygiene habits, health education, and breastfeeding promotion.