[Infectious disease in Kenya--epidemiological study of diarrhoeal disease in children]

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Public Health
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Diarrhea is a significant health concern for children under five in Kenya.
• In 1993, diarrhea ranked as the 5th most frequent disease among outpatients, affecting approximately 800,000 individuals.
• Understanding the specific etiologies of childhood diarrhea is crucial for effective intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the microbiological agents responsible for diarrhea in young children in Kenya.
• To investigate the potential link between drinking water contamination and the prevalence of childhood diarrhea.
• To inform public health strategies for diarrhea prevention and control.

Main Methods:

• Microbiological examination of fecal specimens from 1,362 children under five with diarrhea.
• Identification of major diarrheagenic agents including bacteria (e.g., E. coli, Shigella, Salmonella) and parasites (e.g., Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia).
• Bacteriological analysis of drinking water samples from patients' households.

Main Results:

• Diarrheagenic agents were detected in 56.3% of fecal specimens.
• The most prevalent causative agents were diarrhogenic Escherichia coli (17.2%), Rotavirus (11.4%), Shigella spp. (6.3%), Entamoeba histolytica (5.8%), Salmonella spp. (5.4%), and Giardia lamblia (3.6%).
• Enterobacteriaceae, indicative of fecal contamination, were frequently found in household drinking water samples.

Conclusions:

• Diarrhea in young Kenyan children is often caused by a variety of infectious agents.
• Contaminated drinking water is a probable source of fecal pathogens leading to diarrhea.
• Public health interventions should focus on improving water quality and sanitation to reduce childhood diarrhea.