Childhood bacterial diarrhoea in a regional hospital in Saudi Arabia: clinico-aetiological features

J Trop Med Hyg. 1994 Apr;97(2):87-90.

Abstract

Over a one-year period, 210 paediatric patients, who were admitted with acute diarrhoea to a regional hospital in the south-western region of Saudi Arabia, were retrospectively reviewed for bacterial enteropathogens. Bacterial pathogens were isolated from 66 (31.4%) patients, with Shigella being the most common (17.1%), followed by Salmonella (10.5%), and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) (3.8%). Major clinical findings associated with bacterial diarrhoea are similar to those reported before. Our results suggest that bacterial pathogens constitute a major cause of acute childhood diarrhoea in hospitalized children in Al-Baha province. Further prospective community based studies are needed to identify the pattern and risk factors of acute childhood diarrhoea in the region.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diarrhea / epidemiology*
  • Diarrhea / microbiology
  • Diarrhea / physiopathology
  • Dysentery, Bacillary / epidemiology*
  • Dysentery, Bacillary / microbiology
  • Dysentery, Bacillary / physiopathology
  • Escherichia coli Infections / epidemiology*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
  • Escherichia coli Infections / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Population Surveillance*
  • Referral and Consultation
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Salmonella Infections / epidemiology*
  • Salmonella Infections / microbiology
  • Salmonella Infections / physiopathology
  • Saudi Arabia / epidemiology