Aetiology of acute gastro-enteritis in children at Saint Camille Medical Centre, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Pak J Biol Sci. 2009 Feb 1;12(3):258-63. doi: 10.3923/pjbs.2009.258.263.

Abstract

The present study aims at identifying the infectious agents responsible for child Acute GastroEnteritis (AGE) in Ouagadougou. From May 5 2006 to June 22 2008, 648 children aged from 2 to 41 months, with at least an average of 3 loose stools per day have been enrolled for coproculture, parasitology and virology test. Among them, 34 (5.25%) were HIV seropositive. A single sample of faeces from each child was used to identify enteropathogens. An infectious aetiology was identified in 41.20% of cases. The pathogenic agents detected as responsible for the AGE are: Rotavirus 21.1%; Adenovirus 1.9%; Giardia 7.6% Entamoeba; 1.08%; entero-pathogenic E. coli 41.7%; Salmonella 3.40%; Shigella 1.85% and Yersinia 1.70%.

Conclusion: Therefore, these AGE etiologic agents constitute a problem of public health in Burkina Faso. Their control for the child would require: (1) a regular paediatric and clinical follow up; (2) health education of the population for food hygiene and (3) in case of absence of HIV infection in the mother, a promotion of exclusive breast-feeding up to the age of 4 months.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anthropometry
  • Burkina Faso / epidemiology
  • Child, Preschool
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Gastroenteritis / epidemiology
  • Gastroenteritis / etiology*
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • Hospitals*
  • Humans
  • Infant