RESUMO
Laboratory diagnosis of Vibrio cholerae in children with its susceptibility pattern to different antibiotics. 460 patients aged from few days and up to 12 years were included in this study. These children were admitted to Nahrin teaching hospital in June 1999 due to sudden onset of watery diarrhea that led to various degrees of dehydration. Full examination of each patient was done to assess the degree of dehydration. Stool examinations were done macroscopically followed by culture of the stool in selective media for Vibrio called Thiosulfate-Citrate-Bile-Sucrose [TCBS]. A further identification by biochemical and serological test was done to confirm the diagnosis. Antibiotic susceptibility tests to different antibiotics were done to every case. -according to the degree of dehydration, these 460 patients were divided into 4 groups, of which 47.8% had sever dehydration, 40% had moderate dehydration, 9.1% had mild dehydration and only 3% were not dehydrated. On macroscopical stool examination 90% were watery in consistency with 2.6% contain blood and mucus. Out of these 460 cases having diarrhea, 160 cases [34.8%] were diagnosed as cholera cases, of which 54.4% were males and 45.6% were females. The percentage according to age of the patients were 16.3% < 1 year of age, 62.5% of 1-5 years and 21.3% > 5 years. Regarding residency of the patients, the highest percent were, from Al-Mahmoodyiah district [37.5%] followed by Abu-Graib district [20%]. In addition to dehydration, 50% of the admitted patients had vomiting, 31% had fever which presented mainly in children below 5 years of age, 3% of the cases developed convulsion and 4.4% had stupor. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were done using the following antibiotics and their percentage of sensitivity as follows, Ampicillin [49%], Tetracycline [4.9%], Gentamycin [31%], Trimetheprim [68.4%], Erythromycin [38.5%] and Nalidixic acid [69.4%]. -Vibrio cholerae is one of the important causes of watery diarrhea that lead to sever dehydration and various complications if untreated. In children, the highest percent of the disease is in patients of 1-5 years of age with the highest percent in people living in the periphery of Baghdad. The microorganisms show high resistance rate to commonly used antibiotic such as Tetracycline