Stool bacterial aerobic overgrowth in the small intestine of children with acute diarrhoea
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Children with acute diarrhea often have an overgrowth of small intestinal aerobic bacteria. This bacterial imbalance may contribute to the development of diarrhea in children.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pediatrics
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Acute diarrhea is a common childhood illness.
- The role of small intestinal aerobic flora in pediatric diarrhea is not fully understood.
- Malnutrition can impact a child's susceptibility to infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the aerobic flora of the small intestine in children with acute diarrhea.
- To compare bacterial concentrations in normal and malnourished children.
- To identify enteropathogenic bacteria in the small intestine and stool.
Main Methods:
- Studied aerobic flora in 27 children with acute diarrhea.
- Utilized upper and middle small intestine intubation.
- Performed stool cultures for bacterial analysis.
Main Results:
- All children showed bacterial concentrations of 10(5) germs/ml in the small intestine.
- Enteropathogenic bacteria were isolated from stools in 9 cases.
- Small intestinal overgrowth of aerobic flora was observed in children with diarrhea.
Conclusions:
- Elevated incidence of small intestinal aerobic flora overgrowth in children with acute diarrhea.
- This overgrowth is a potential etiological factor in pediatric diarrhea.
- Further consideration of bacterial imbalance in diarrhea pathogenesis is warranted.
Abstract:
The aerobic flora of 2 groups of children (normal and with malnutrition) with acute diarrhoea was studied, by intubation of the upper and middle small intestine and by stool culture. All the 27 children studied presented bacterial concentrations of 10(5) germs/ml at one or both levels studied. In 9 cases enteropathogen bacteria e were isolated from stools, and in 6 of these they were also found in the small intestine. The results show the elevated incidence of overgrowth of the small intestinal aerobic flora in children with acute diarrhoea. This fact is mentioned as another etiological factor to be taken into consideration in this pathology.