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Campylobacter enteritis in children presents with fever, diarrhea, and bloody stools. Early diagnosis via microscopy and effective treatment with erythromycin are key for recovery.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Campylobacter enteritis is a common childhood illness.
- Understanding its clinical presentation and diagnostic methods is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinical features of Campylobacter enteritis in children.
- To evaluate diagnostic techniques and treatment efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 37 pediatric cases over six months.
- Clinical observation, direct phase-contrast microscopy of stools, bacterial culture, and serologic assays.
- Assessment of erythromycin treatment and Skirrow-type selective medium.
Main Results:
- Fever, diarrhea, and bloody stools were prevalent (approx. 90%).
- Abdominal pain common in older children; vomiting and dehydration were infrequent.
- Rapid diagnosis possible with phase-contrast microscopy; erythromycin effective, clearing cultures in 48 hours.
Conclusions:
- Campylobacter enteritis in children has characteristic symptoms.
- Phase-contrast microscopy offers rapid diagnosis.
- Erythromycin is an effective treatment, and selective medium can be optimized.
Abstract:
In 37 children with Campylobacter enteritis seen over a 6-month period, ages ranged from 2 weeks to 15 years. The sex ratio (male:female) was three:two. Fever, diarrhea, and bloody stools occurred in about 90% of patients. Blood appeared in the stools characteristically 2 to 4 days after onset of symptoms. Over 90% of older children developed abdominal pain. Vomiting was mild and occurred in 30% of patients. Dehydration was not a feature. Infection occurred in all social classes and was not associated with parental occupation, travel, or animal contact. The illness often presented characteristically and a rapid laboratory diagnosis could be made in patients presenting acutely by direct phase-contrast microscopy of stools. The organism persisted in the stools for up to seven weeks in untreated patients, but could no longer be cultured after 48 hours of therapy with erythromycin, to which all strains were highly sensitive. Significant serologic responses were elicited using a serum bactericidal assay. The Skirrow-type selective medium used by us could be improved by increasing the concentration of polymyxin B sulfate to 5 microgram/ml.