Diarrhea caused by enteropathogenic bacteria in children

ABSTRACT

Diarrhea is a major cause of mortality in 15 to 20% of the under 5-year-olds, and among the bacterial agents causing diarrhea, the five most important are Shigella, Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter and Yersinia. In a one-year study conducted in cooperation with a local health center in Islamshahr, South of Tehran, rectal swabs were collected from children less than 5 years of age who presented with diarrhea. Frequency evaluations of Yersinia and Campylobacter along with other intestinal bacterial pathogens were made. A total of 1600 samples were analyzed, 235 [14.7%] of which were positive. Most [119 cases; 50%] high-risk ages included children less than 2 years of age. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli [EPEC] was the most common [109 cases; 6.8%] cause of diarrhea followed by Shigella [54 cases; 3.4%], Salmonella [46 cases; 2.9%], Campylobacter [15 cases; 0.9%] and Yersinia [11 cases; 0.7%]. Seasonal investigations show that, with the exception of Yersinia, all pathogenic bacteria are the most frequently isolated organisms occurring in the summer. Better knowledge about the causes of infection and the epidemiological situation could help the management of intestinal infections