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[Campylobacter enteritis in 0-5-year-old children in the Eindhoven area - and epidemiological study]
Insights
Campylobacter enteritis in children often causes prolonged diarrhea and abdominal pain. While human carriers are rare, domestic animals and farm environments may serve as significant reservoirs for this infection.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Campylobacter enteritis is a common childhood illness.
- Understanding transmission routes is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical presentation of Campylobacter enteritis in children.
- To identify potential reservoirs and transmission dynamics of Campylobacter fetus subspecies jejuni.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 36 children with Campylobacter enteritis in Eindhoven (1980-1980).
- Stool cultures performed over a four-month period.
- Investigation of household contacts and individuals in the meat industry.
- Screening of domestic animals and farm environments for Campylobacter.
Main Results:
- Over 90% of children experienced abdominal pain and/or diarrhea, often prolonged.
- Bloody stools, fever, and vomiting were observed in a significant percentage but resolved early.
- Campylobacter was rarely cultured from children or asymptomatic household contacts after one month.
- No Campylobacter was isolated from asymptomatic meat industry workers.
- Campylobacter was detected in domestic animals and farm environments, suggesting potential reservoirs.
Conclusions:
- Campylobacter enteritis in children presents with significant gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Asymptomatic human carriage appears uncommon, and meat industry workers are unlikely to be an endogenous reservoir.
- Domestic animals and contaminated farm environments represent potential significant reservoirs for human Campylobacter infections.
Abstract:
In the region Eindhoven 36 children with Campylobacter-enteritis were examined from I January 1980 to 31 December 1980. Symptoms were studied and stools were cultured over a four-month period. Abdominal pain and/or diarrhea occurred in more than 90% of patients and were not infrequently of longer duration. Bloody stools were found in 58% of patients and disappeared relatively early during the time of illness, as well as fever and vomiting. After one month Campylobacter could only be cultured in 5% of children; 14 household contacts, who proved to have Campylobacter-enteritis, had also negative stool cultures after one month. Asymptomatic carriership was found in four cases among these household contracts. Campylobacter fetus subspecies jejuni could not be isolated in stools of a number of asymptomatic individuals, working in the meat industry, who were considered to have a higher risk of infection. This group could therefore not be determined as an endogenous human reservoir. On the other hand Campylobacter was isolated in a few domestic animals without symptoms of illness, as well as in some cattle stables and sites. In these places, where several contaminated animals are together, significant reservoirs for human infection may be present.