Clostridium difficile as a cause of diarrhea in Egyptian children and infants

ABSTRACT

This study was planned to find out the role of toxigenic Clostridium difficile in the pathogenesis of diarrheal disease in infants and children. Seventy-five patients with diarrheal disease have been studied and subdivided as follows Group IA included 43 infants [their ages ranged between 1.5-11 months with mean of 5.2 +/- 2.5 months, they were 28 males and 15 females] and Group IB included 32 children [their ages ranged between 12-24 months with mean of 15.2 +/- 3.1 months, they were 20 males and 12 females]. A comparable group of 25 healthy infants and children served as a control group [Group II]. This study showed that there was male predominance in the incidence of diarrheal disease. The incidence of diarrhea was highest in children aged 4-16 months. Persistent diarrhea was significantly more associated with exclusive breast feeding, under weight and bloody diarrhea. Malnourished infants and children had a higher incidence of persistent diarrhea than adequately nourished ones. E. coli was the commonest organism isolated from stools in both acute and persistent diarrhea. It was concluded that Clostridium difficile is common pathogen in diarrheal disease in infants and children and that this must be taken in consideration in the management of diarrhea, because the treatment of C. difficile is different from that of routine enteropathogens