Acute Intestinal Infections in Children Aged 1–5 in Developed and Developing Countries

Acute intestinal infections remain one of the leading causes of morbidity among children under five years of age and represent an important public health challenge in both developed and developing countries. Although these infections often share similar clinical manifestations, their etiological structure, severity, diagnostic accessibility, treatment approaches, and prevention strategies differ considerably depending on socioeconomic conditions, sanitation, healthcare infrastructure, and vaccination coverage. Aim: This review aims to summarize current data on the epidemiology, etiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of acute intestinal infections in children aged 1–5 years, as well as to provide a comparative analysis of approaches in countries with different income levels. Methods: A review of scientific literature focused on acute intestinal infections in young children was conducted. Source selection included full-text assessment. The extracted data were summarized descriptively according to pathogen groups: viral, bacterial, and protozoal infections. A PRISMA flow diagram was used to present the source selection process. Results: The reviewed literature indicates that viral pathogens, particularly rotavirus and norovirus, are among the leading causes of acute gastroenteritis in children under five years of age. According to Global Burden of Disease 2021 estimates, approximately 392.8 million diarrhoeal episodes and 0.34 million deaths occurred among children under five years of age globally in 2021, with mortality disproportionately concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Bacterial infections, including Shigella and diarrheagenic Escherichia coli, are less frequent but are more often associated with invasive disease, severe diarrhea, and systemic complications. Protozoal infections, including Giardia lamblia, may contribute to prolonged diarrhea, especially in children with malnutrition or weakened immune status. Substantial regional differences were identified in pathogen distribution, antimicrobial resistance, diagnostic capacity, access to healthcare, and vaccination coverage. In developing countries, the disease burden remains strongly associated with limited access to safe water, sanitation, timely diagnosis, and appropriate medical care, whereas in developed countries acute intestinal infections more commonly contribute to outbreaks, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations. Conclusions: Acute intestinal infections in children aged 1–5 years remain an important global health burden with substantial regional disparities. Effective prevention and control require context-specific strategies combining high vaccination coverage, improved water, sanitation and hygiene, timely pathogen-specific diagnosis, rational antimicrobial use, and strengthened surveillance, with particular priority given to high-burden and resource-limited settings.