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[Campylobacter-enteritis in children (author's transl)]
Insights
Campylobacter fetus ssp. jejuni infections were identified in young children with diarrhea in 1980. This bacterial infection was more prevalent in summer, in boys, and in those under 4 years old.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Enteropathogenic bacteria are a significant cause of childhood diarrhea.
- Campylobacter fetus subspecies jejuni is a recognized enteric pathogen.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the prevalence and characteristics of Campylobacter fetus ssp. jejuni infections in young children with diarrhea.
- To describe the clinical presentation and antimicrobial susceptibility of identified strains.
Main Methods:
- Routine screening of stool specimens from children up to 6 years old with diarrhea.
- Epidemiological data collection on age, sex, and season of infection.
- Clinical symptom documentation.
- Antimicrobial sensitivity testing of isolated bacterial strains.
Main Results:
- 72 cases of Campylobacter fetus ssp. jejuni infection were detected out of 3,680 stool specimens (1.95% prevalence).
- Infections peaked during summer months and were more common in children under 4 years and in boys (2.9:1 ratio).
- Common symptoms included watery, mucus, and hemorrhagic diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and abdominal pain. All isolates showed similar sensitivity to tested chemotherapeutics.
Conclusions:
- Campylobacter fetus ssp. jejuni was an identifiable cause of bacterial diarrhea in young children in 1980.
- The findings highlight specific demographic and seasonal risk factors for this infection.
- Consistent antimicrobial sensitivity patterns were observed across all tested strains.
Abstract:
During 1980 out of 3,680 stool specimens of children aged up to 6 years with diarrhea routinely screened for enteropathogenic bacteria, 72 cases of Campylobacter fetus ssp. jejuni infection were found. They were more common during the summer months, in children aged less than 4 years, and in boys rather than in girls (2, 9:1). The most common symptoms were watery, mucus, and haemorrhagic diarrhea, fever, vomiting and abdominal pain. All strains exhibited nearly identical sensitivity patterns for the chemotherapeutics tested.