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Aetiology of diarrhoea in Singapore
1Enteric Bacteriology Laboratory, Pathology Department, Alexandra Hospital, Singapore.
Insights
Acute diarrhea in children and adults is frequently caused by bacterial and viral pathogens. Salmonella and rotavirus were the most common culprits, particularly affecting children under five years old.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Acute diarrhea remains a significant health concern, especially in pediatric populations.
- Identifying causative pathogens is crucial for effective treatment and public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of bacterial and viral pathogens in acute diarrhea cases.
- To identify the most common pathogens and susceptible age groups.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of stool samples from two distinct patient groups: young children in a pediatric ward and routine patients of all ages.
- Pathogen detection using microbiological and virological techniques.
Main Results:
- In young children, 70% of stool samples were positive for pathogens, with bacteria (37%), viruses (22%), and mixed infections (11%) identified.
- In routine patients, 36% of stool samples were positive, including bacteria (11%), viruses (18%), and mixed pathogens (7%).
- Salmonella species were the primary cause of bacterial diarrhea in young children, while Salmonella and rotavirus were the most frequent overall pathogens.
Conclusions:
- Young children, particularly those under five years old, are highly susceptible to bacterial and viral diarrheal diseases.
- Gastroenteritis caused by Salmonella species is a significant contributor to bacterial diarrhea in this age group.
- Effective diagnostic approaches are needed to identify common pathogens like Salmonella and rotavirus to manage acute diarrhea effectively.
Abstract:
Stools from acute diarrhoea were investigated for bacterial and viral pathogens. In one study involving 63 young children in a paediatric ward, 70% of the stools were positive for the pathogens looked for of which 37% contained bacteria, 22% viruses and 11% mixed cultures of bacteria and viruses. In another study in which 130 watery stools from routine specimens of patients of all ages were investigated, 36% were positive for pathogens with 11% bacteria, 18% viruses and 7% mixed pathogens. The high incidence of bacterial diarrhoea in young children was attributed to gastroenteritis caused by Salmonella species. Salmonella and rotavirus were found the most common pathogens in bacterial and viral diarrhoeas, and the most susceptible age group was under 5 years-old.