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Published on: March 10, 2020
Campylobacter enteritis in children in northern Taiwan--a 7-year experience
Shu-Chien Wang1, Luan-Yin Chang, Po-Ren Hsueh
1Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Insights
Pediatric Campylobacter enteritis in Taiwan typically presents with diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. Most cases, including those with underlying conditions, resolve favorably without severe complications.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Campylobacter infection is a significant cause of acute enteritis globally.
- Clinical presentations of Campylobacter enteritis can differ geographically.
- Understanding pediatric cases in specific regions is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical manifestations of pediatric Campylobacter enteritis.
- To analyze the characteristics of infections in northern Taiwan.
- To identify common symptoms and risk factors in children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of pediatric Campylobacter enteritis cases.
- Data collected from January 2000 to December 2006 at National Taiwan University Hospital.
- Analysis included Campylobacter species, patient demographics, clinical symptoms, and laboratory findings.
Main Results:
- 104 pediatric cases of enteric campylobacteriosis were identified.
- Campylobacter jejuni (76.9%) was more common than Campylobacter coli (23.1%).
- Most infections occurred in children under 5, with watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever being prevalent symptoms. C. coli infections showed more severe signs.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric enteric campylobacteriosis in northern Taiwan generally follows a benign clinical course.
- Even in cases with bacteremia or underlying diseases, favorable outcomes are common.
- Antimicrobial treatment efficacy and necessity warrant further consideration in this population.
Background And Purpose:
Campylobacter infection is recognized as a major cause of acute enteritis in humans. The clinical characteristics may vary in different countries. This study investigated the clinical manifestations of pediatric Campylobacter enteritis in a medical center in northern Taiwan.
Methods:
This was a retrospective review of Campylobacter enteritis infections at National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, from January 2000 to December 2006. All children who tested positive for Campylobacter, isolated from stool samples, were included in the study. Data collected and evaluated included the species of Campylobacter, age, gender, underlying disease, travel history, clinical manifestations and laboratory data.
Results:
A total of 104 patients had enteric campylobacteriosis. Campylobacter coli was grown from 24 patients (23.1%), while Campylobacter jejuni was found in 80 patients (76.9%). More than half of the infections (60.6%) occurred in children less than 5 years old. The male-to-female ratio was 2.46:1. Fifteen patients had underlying diseases (14.4%), such as hematologic malignancy, solid organ transplantation and liver cirrhosis. Watery diarrhea (93.2%), abdominal pain (92.0%), fever (81.2%), and vomiting (46.1%) were the most common clinical manifestations. Three episodes of campylobacteriosis appeared to be imported from Southeast Asia and 3 were acquired nosocomially. One patient, who did not have any underlying disease, developed Campylobacter bacteremia. No Guillain-Barre syndrome was noted in our patients and none of our patients died due to campylobacteriosis. While both diseases had similar clinical manifestations, infections caused by C. coli seemed to be more severe than those caused by C. jejuni, as evidenced by a higher incidence of decreased activity and pus cells in the stool in patients infected with C. coli.
Conclusion:
Even in patients with bacteremia or underlying disease, enteric campylobacteriosis usually runs a benign course regardless of treatment with antimicrobial agents in children in northern Taiwan.
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