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[Etiologic, clinical and socio-democratic characteristics of acute diarrhea in Venezuela]
M I Urrestarazu1, F Liprandi, E Pérez de Suárez
1Sección de Microbiología, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.
Insights
Rotaviruses are the primary cause of acute diarrhea in Venezuelan children under five, frequently leading to dehydration. Other pathogens like Campylobacter and E. coli are significant in infants, highlighting age as a key factor in diarrhea severity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Context:
- Acute diarrhea is a major health concern in children globally.
- Venezuela faces significant challenges in managing pediatric infectious diseases.
Purpose:
- To investigate the epidemiological, clinical, and etiological factors of acute diarrhea in children under five in Venezuela.
- To identify the primary causative agents and their association with disease severity.
Summary:
- A hospital-based study in Venezuela (1993-1995) analyzed 2,552 children with diarrhea and 793 controls.
- Rotaviruses were the leading cause (30%), strongly linked to dehydration (58%).
- Campylobacter spp. (13%) and E. coli (9%) were also identified, with significant association in infants under 3 months.
Impact:
- Findings underscore the critical role of rotavirus in pediatric diarrhea and dehydration.
- Highlights the importance of age-specific etiological considerations for effective treatment strategies.
- Confirms age as a crucial determinant in the prevalence and severity of childhood diarrhea.
Abstract:
In four cities of Venezuela a study was carried out to evaluate the epidemiological, clinical, and etiological characteristics of acute diarrhea in children under 5 years of age. The study was done between June 1993 and May 1995 and involved children who were seen in a hospital, 2,552 with diarrhea and 793 controls. The Fisher exact test was used for the statistical analysis of the results. Rotaviruses were the most important agents, both in terms of their frequency (30%) and their association with dehydration (58%). Following in importance were Campylobacter spp. (13%) and Escherichia coli classical O serogroups (9%), but their association with diarrhea was only statistically significant among children less than 3 months old, a fact that is particularly important from the standpoint of treatment. The importance of age was confirmed as a determining factor in the prevalence and severity of diarrhea.