ABSTRACT
A case control study was conducted in the pediatrics departments of Isamilia and Port-Said general hospitals aiming at identifying the risk factors that predispose to persistent diarrhea in children less than five years. Persistent diarrhea was defined as diarrhea lasting for 14 days or more. Consecutive sample of 76 child suffering from persistent diarrhea, and a similar number of age matched controls with acute diarrhea, for less than seven days, were included in the study. The study showed that preexisting malnutrition and early stoppage of breast feeding before the first six months of life were significantly associated with increased risk of developing persistent diarrhea. Furthermore, persistent diarrhea was significantly associated with the use of antidiarrheal or antiprotozoal drugs before presentation to the hospital. Watery stools was more encountered with acute diarrheal episodes. Some potential pathogens were isolated from the stool of the children with acute and persistent diarrhea, however, Giardia lamblia and Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli [EPEC] were frequently found in a similar proportions of both acute and persistent diarrheal episodes