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Characteristics of persistent diarrhea in a community-based cohort of young US children

Louis Vernacchio1, Richard M Vezina, Allen A Mitchell

  • 1Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University, Boston, MA 02115, USA. lvernacchio@slone.bu.edu

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
|July 5, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Persistent diarrhea (PD) in US children is common, with most cases not linked to known infectious agents. Viral pathogens like norovirus and rotavirus are more prevalent in PD, but many episodes remain unexplained.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Persistent diarrhea (PD) is a significant concern in pediatric populations.
  • Understanding the microbiology and characteristics of PD is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To define the characteristics and microbiology of persistent diarrhea (PD) in US children.
  • To determine the incidence and duration of PD episodes.
  • To identify associated pathogens and treatment patterns.

Main Methods:

  • A six-month prospective cohort study involving 604 healthy children aged 6 to 36 months.
  • Diarrhea episodes were monitored, and stool samples were analyzed for pathogens.
  • Comparison of PD episodes with acute diarrhea episodes regarding medical visits and treatment.

Main Results:

  • The incidence of PD was 0.18 episodes per person-year, with a median duration of 22 days.
  • PD episodes were more likely to result in a medical visit compared to acute episodes (28.0% vs 8.2%).
  • Norovirus, rotavirus, and sapovirus were significantly more prevalent in PD, but 59% of specimens were negative for all tested pathogens.

Conclusions:

  • Persistent diarrhea occurs in approximately 1 in 5 US infants and young children.
  • While viral pathogens are implicated in a minority of PD cases, most episodes are not attributable to currently known infectious agents.
  • PD is generally a benign illness, with a significant proportion of cases not requiring medical attention.
Abstract

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