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Cohort study of intestinal infection with campylobacter in Mexican children
J J Calva1, G M Ruiz-Palacios, A B Lopez-Vidal
1Department of Infectious Diseases, Instituto Nacional de la Nutricion, Tlalpan, Mexico.
Insights
Campylobacter infections are common in young children, with incidence decreasing with age. Early infections may offer protection against later ones.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Campylobacter infections are a significant cause of diarrheal illness in children worldwide.
- Understanding the incidence and illness-to-infection ratio is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of Campylobacter infections and associated diarrhea in young children.
- To calculate the illness-to-infection ratio for Campylobacter in this cohort.
- To explore the relationship between age and infection/illness rates.
Main Methods:
- A one-year prospective follow-up study of 179 children under 5 years old in an urban, low-income community.
- Monitoring for Campylobacter intestinal infections, distinguishing between symptomatic (diarrhea-associated) and asymptomatic episodes.
- Statistical analysis to determine incidence rates, illness-to-infection ratios, and age-related correlations.
Main Results:
- 66% of children experienced at least one Campylobacter infection during the study year.
- One-third of infections were associated with diarrhea, resulting in an overall illness-to-infection ratio.
- Annual incidence was 2.1 episodes per child, inversely related to age (r = -0.78, p < 0.02).
- The illness-to-infection ratio was 1:2 in infants under 6 months and negatively associated with age (r = -0.7, p < 0.02).
Conclusions:
- Campylobacter infections are highly prevalent in young children in low-income urban settings.
- Infection rates and the likelihood of illness decrease with increasing age.
- Symptomatic infections early in life may confer some protection against subsequent Campylobacter infections.
Abstract:
A cohort of 179 children under 5 years of age from a low-income urban community was followed up for a year to determine the incidence of symptom-producing and of diarrhoea-free campylobacter intestinal infections, and thus their illness-to-infection ratio. 66% of all children had at least one campylobacter infection, one-third of these being associated with diarrhoea. The annual incidence of all campylobacter infections was 2.1 episodes per child. The incidence was inversely related to age (r = -0.78 p less than 0.02). The illness-to-infection ratio, which in infants younger than 6 months was 1:2, was negatively associated with age (r = -0.7, p less than 0.02). Only symptom-producing infections occurring early in life seemed to protect against subsequent infections.