THE IMPORTANCE OF FECAL CALPROTECTIN IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF ANTIBIOTIC-ASSOCIATED DIARRHEA CAUSED BY CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE IN CHILDREN

At present time pediatricians, gastroenterologists, infectious disease specialists, and other medical professionals are paying increased attention to antibiotic-associated diarrhea. This is largely due to the widespread, often unprescribed and uncontrolled use of antibacterial drugs, frequently available in pharmacies without a prescription. Such practices contribute to the growing resistance of conditionally pathogenic microorganisms in the body. According to the WHO definition, antibiotic-associated diarrhea is characterized by an increase in stool frequency (more than three times a day) during or within eight weeks after antibiotic therapy. It is often accompanied by an increase in stool volume, changes in consistency, and the appearance of pathological inclusions such as mucus, greenish coloration, and blood [1].