This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Khuffash, F. A. Articles by Shaltout, A. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Khuffash, F. A. Articles by Shaltout, A. A. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Acute Gastroenteritis: Clinical Features According to Etiologic Agents

Departments of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait

Sarvan K. Sethi, PhD

Departments of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait.

Azza A. Shaltout, FRCP E

Departments of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait

The clinical manifestations in 595 children hospitalized with gastroenteritis during a 15-month time frame were studied. They were divided into eight groups according to etiologic agent: rotavirus (203 patients); Salmonellae (98); Escherichia coli (55); Campylobacter (36); Shigella (22); combined rotavirus and salmonellae (44); combined rotavirus and other bacteria (26); and no pathogen (111). The mean duration of diarrhea was shortest in the rotavirus and "no pathogen" groups (4.8 and 5.6 days, respectively) and longest with pure and mixed salmonella infections (12.3 and 12.9 days, respectively).

Associated manifestations were most frequent with salmonellae and least frequent with rotavirus and E. coli infections. Malnutrition also was most common with salmonellae and lowest with rotavirus and E. coli. There were no differences in the frequency of hypernatremia. Hyponatremia was most frequently encountered with salmonella (25% compared to 9% in the rest of the patients). Evidence of septicemia was found in 22 patients, 21 of whom were in the salmonella groups. The four deaths in this series (0.7%) also were in the salmonellae groups. The clinical severity of salmonella infection in developing countries, particularly in young and malnourished children, warrants attention to more intensive management. The selective use of antibiotics may help reduce the mortality and morbidity of gastroenteritis.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?