Summer diarrhea in children: a monocentric French epidemiological observational study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric infectious diseases
• Gastroenterology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Pediatric diarrhea poses a significant global public health challenge.
• While winter diarrhea peaks are well-documented in France, summer diarrhea etiology remains less understood.
• Limited data exists on infectious agents causing pediatric diarrhea during summer months in France.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of infectious diarrhea in children during summer in France.
• To identify the specific pathogens responsible for pediatric summer diarrhea.
• To describe common factors aiding in the etiological guidance of these diarrheal episodes.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in a French pediatric emergency department from June to September 2019 and 2020.
• Multiplex gastrointestinal pathogen panels were utilized for comprehensive etiological diagnosis.
• Multiple correspondence analysis was employed to define patient profiles based on severity and pathogen type.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of infectious summer diarrhea was high at 81.1% among 95 included children, predominantly those under five years old.
• A total of 126 infectious agents were identified, with bacteria (50.0%), viruses (38.1%), and parasites (11.9%) represented.
• Key pathogens included enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (18.9%), rotavirus (13.5%), and Salmonella (12.7%). Co-detections occurred in 51.9% of infectious cases.

Conclusions:

• Infectious agents are the primary cause of pediatric diarrhea during summer in France.
• Enteropathogenic E. coli, rotavirus, and Salmonella are significant contributors to summer pediatric diarrhea.
• Understanding pathogen profiles and co-detections can inform etiological diagnosis and management strategies for summer diarrhea in children.