Eighty-two children with the toxic dystrophic syndrome coursing in the presence of acute enteric infection were examined. A number of pathogenetically significant disorders were revealed: salt-deficient exsicosis, exsication, hypopotassemia, anemia, hypoproteinemia, stable metabolic acidosis, protein and energy insufficiency. Among the causes of protein and energy insufficiency associated with progressive weight loss the principal were impaired cavitary digestion, decrease of the absorption capacity of the intestine for proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, and long inadequate nutrition because of protracted diarrhea. Newly developed three-staged intensive care protocol with correction of homeostasis, provision with energy and nutrients, and repair of cavitary digestion and absorption capacity of the intestine helped reduce the mortality in this patient population from 13.4 to 4.8%.