Shigellosis in a suburban commune in Ha Noi

A total of 1125 diarrhea fecal samples were examined: 163 were positive by using PCR (14.5%) and 67 Shigella found by culture (5.9%). The highest prevalence of shigellosis was seen in children with 2 years old and in the group of ³16 years old (23% and 17.9% by PCR, and 30.7% and 52.2% by culture, respectively). The lowest prevalence was found in children £ 6 months (3.1%) by PCR, and 3% by culture). The positive cases were seen more in female than in male in the age group of ³16 years old. Shigellosis is a sporadic infection all year round but the higher frequency seen in the hot months.