ABSTRACT
A recent epidemic of cholera and emergence of novel strain of Vibrio cholera 0139 in South Asia prompted a necessity to investigate the potential occurrence of this organism in Thailand. From October 1992 to December 1993 there were 2,031 cases of pediatric diarrhea in Samutsongkram. Seventy three patients were infected with Vibrio cholera 01, forty one percent were below 3 years of age. None of the breast feeding infants were reported to be infected with this orgamion. Most of the cases occurred during the summer. Moderate to severe dehyration was commomly found. Malnutrition was frequently found in these patients. The susceptibility of the organism to ampicillin, colistin and nalidixic acid was good, but the organism were moderately sensitive to cotrimoxazole and tetracycline. Vibrio cholerae non-01 was detected in stool culture of 51 cases. Most of the patients were below 9 years of age. Only one case was confirmed to be infected with Vibrio chlera 0139. He was a seven month old and had mild degree of diarrhea. There was no case fatality due to diarrhea in these patients.