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Aeromonas-associated diarrhea in Filipino children
Insights
Aeromonas bacteria were identified in 15% of young children with acute diarrhea in the Philippines. This study highlights a higher prevalence than previously reported, with common species including Aeromonas hydrophila.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Aeromonas species are increasingly recognized as potential enteric pathogens.
- Limited data exists on Aeromonas prevalence in diarrheal diseases in the Philippines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of Aeromonas infections in young children with acute diarrhea in the Philippines.
- To identify the species of Aeromonas isolated and their association with clinical symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Stool samples were collected from 66 young children presenting with acute diarrhea.
- Aeromonas species were isolated and identified using standard microbiological techniques.
- Clinical data including age, duration of diarrhea, stool frequency, and dehydration status were recorded.
Main Results:
- Aeromonas was detected in 10 out of 66 (15%) children.
- The isolated species were Aeromonas hydrophila (50%), Aeromonas caviae (30%), and Aeromonas sobria (20%).
- Common clinical features included fever and vomiting (70%), mild dehydration (80%), and mucoid stools (50%).
Conclusions:
- This study reports the first cases of Aeromonas-associated diarrhea in young children in the Philippines.
- The findings suggest a significant prevalence of Aeromonas in this population, warranting further investigation into its pathogenicity and epidemiology.
Abstract:
Aeromonas was isolated from the stools of ten out of sixty-six young (15%) suffering from acute diarrhea. These are the first reported cases in the Philippines and the prevalence cited was higher than reported elsewhere. Three species isolated were A. hydrophilia (50%), A. caviae (30%) and A. sobria (20%), either singly (60%) or in combination with ETEC and Campylobacter jejuni. Mean age of patients was 12.9 months with mean pre-admission duration of diarrhea of 48.6 hours. Mean stool frequency was 8.3 times per day prior to admission. Clinical features on admission showed that fever and vomiting were common complaints (70%) with majority of the patients (80%) presenting with only mild dehydration. Bloody diarrhea was absent in all, although mucoid stools were found in 50% of cases. Total stool output was variable with a mean of 245.0 g/kg admission body weight. Duration of diarrhea while in the hospital was short with a mean of 53.4 hours. The pathogenicity of the organism is still the subject of numerous researches. Further studies on this aspect and its epidemiology need to be undertaken.