Enteropathogens in acute diarrheal infants

The prevalence of bacterial, viral, and parasitic enteropathogens was studied in 320 infants under 2 years of age presenting with diarrhea of less than 72 hours duration to S. Fakeeh Pediatric Hospital in Jeddah from Junuary to December, 1992. Pathogens were identified in 68.4% and multiple pathogens were found in 4.9% of infants. Rotavirus was detected in 48.1% and was the most prevalent diagnosis. Bacterial enteropathogens were isolated in 15.4% of cases. Entamaeba Histolytica and Giardia Lamblia were visualized either separately or together with other enteropathogens in stools of 7.8% of'infants. Entamaeba Histolytica and enteropathogenic Escherichia Coli were commonly found as mixed infections with Rotavirus. Rotavirus diarrhea was watery in 66.7% of cases, and 66.7% of cases and fever and upper respiratory symptoms were observed in 50% of Rotavirus and 66.7% of Salmonella infections. Infants with Entamaeba Histolytica and Shigella infections nearly always had abdominal pain, blood and mucus in their stool. Hence, clinical presentation and stool examination are helpful in diagnosis and choosing the definitive treatment regimen