Aetiological agents of diarrhea in infancy and early childhood

Aetiological agents of acute diarrhoea in the first three years of life were determined. The main causative agents were bacteria [25.6%], viruses [20.6%] and parasites [3.6%]. Mixed infection of bacteria and viruses was also found. Sixtyfour per cent children were malnourished and 23% were severely dehydrated. EPEC serotype OIII : K 58 was found to be predominant. Mixed infection mainly affected the infants and diarrhoea was more frequent in males under one year of age