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Etiology of childhood diarrhea in Zliten, Libya

Mustafa B Ali1, Khalifa S Ghenghesh, Ridha B Aissa

  • 1Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, El-Khomes University, El-Khomes, Libya.

Saudi Medical Journal
|November 29, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Rotavirus, Salmonella, and Cryptosporidium were the main causes of childhood diarrhea in Zliten, Libya. Many Salmonella strains showed high resistance to common antibiotics, possibly due to easy drug access.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Public health

Background:

  • Diarrheal diseases remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children globally.
  • Understanding the specific etiological agents and their resistance patterns is crucial for effective treatment and prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the causative agents of acute diarrhea in children in Zliten, Libya.
  • To investigate associations between pathogen isolation and factors like age, gender, season, feeding practices, water source, and antibiotic use.
  • To determine if identified agents were community or hospital-acquired.

Main Methods:

  • Stool samples from 169 children with acute diarrhea were analyzed using standard microbiological techniques for viral, bacterial, and parasitic agents.
  • Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on bacterial isolates using the disc diffusion method.
  • Data were collected over a one-year period (April 2000-March 2001).

Main Results:

  • Rotavirus (26.6%), Salmonella (13.6%), and Cryptosporidium (13%) were the most frequently detected enteropathogens.
  • Other identified agents included Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (11.8%), Aeromonas (5.5%), Shigella (3.6%), and Giardia lamblia (1.2%).
  • Over 75% of Salmonella isolates exhibited resistance to six common antimicrobial agents, with Salmonella enteric serotype heidelberg being predominant.

Conclusions:

  • Rotavirus, non-typhoid Salmonella, and Cryptosporidium are key etiological agents of childhood diarrhea in Zliten.
  • High antimicrobial resistance rates, especially in Salmonella, were observed, potentially linked to the accessibility of antibiotics.
  • These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and antimicrobial stewardship in the region.
Abstract

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