Table 2 Clinical and fecal subclinical characteristics in persistent diarrhea children before, during, and after treatment.

Typical symptoms

 Stools a day of ≥ 3 n(%)

49 (100)

41 (83.67)

38 (77.55)

48 (100)

34 (70.83)

14 (29.17)

> 0.9999^a

0.1311^b

< 0.0001^b

 3–5 stools a day

25 (51.02)

30 (61.22)

33 (67.35)

24 (50.0)

32 (66.67)

13 (27.08)

0.9199^b

0.5768^b

< 0.0001^b

 6–7 stools a day

18 (36.73)

10 (20.41)

4 (8.16)

17 (35.42)

1 (2.08)

0 (0.0)

0.8925^b

0.0077^a

0.1173^a

 ≥ 8 stools a day

6 (12.24)

1 (2.04)

1 (2.04)

7 (14.58)

1 (2.08)

1 (2.08)

0.7354^b

> 0.9999^a

> 0.9999^a

 Presence of fecal mucus n (%)

48 (97.96)

44 (89.80)

34 (69.39)

46 (95.83)

33 (68.75)

12 (25.0)

0.6171^a

0.0104^b

< 0.0001^b

 Diaper stool types 4-5B n (%)

47 (95.92)

42 (85.71)

24 (48.98)

44 (91.67)

20 (41.67)

10 (20.83)

0.4357^a

< 0.0001^b

0.0037^b

Subclinical test for stool n (%)

 Erythrocyte positive

(mild to severe)

30 (61.22)

15 (30.61)

5 (10.20)

21 (43.75)

10 (20.83)

1 (2.08)

0.0848^b

0.2709^b

0.2041^a

 Leukocyte positive

(mild to severe)

44 (89.80)

25 (51.02)

6 (12.24)

46 (95.83)

10 (20.83)

0 (0.0)

0.4357^a

0.002^b

0.0266^a

 pH ≤ 5.5

18 (36.73)

13 (26.53)

10 (20.41)

12 (25.0)

10 (20.83)

6 (12.5)

0.2112^b

0.5095^b

0.2941^b

 pH > 5.5

31 (63.27)

36 (73.47)

25 (51.02)

36 (75.0)

38 (79.17)

12 (25.0)

0.0083^b