RESUMEN

Stool material from seventy-eight children below the age of three years was examined for the presence of various enteropathogens. The patients had been admitted to the Ga-Rankuwa hospital for rehydration therapy. A causative agent was identified in 76.9% of the cases studied. The most prevalent organisms identified were 38.5% entero-toxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), 25.6% Cryptosporidium parvum, 15.4% Campylobacter sp., 14.1% enteric adenoviruses and 12.8% rotavirus. In 38.5% of cases, a mixed infection was observed with up to four different organisms being identified from a single patient. ETEC elaborating heat-labile toxin (LT) found together with C. parvum was the most common combination seen in mixed infections.

Asunto(s)

Gastroenteritis/epidemiología , Preescolar , Deshidratación/epidemiología , Deshidratación/etiología , Heces/microbiología , Femenino , Fluidoterapia , Gastroenteritis/complicaciones , Gastroenteritis/microbiología , Gastroenteritis/terapia , Humanos , Incidencia , Lactante , Recién Nacido , Masculino , Admisión del Paciente , Estaciones del Año , Sudáfrica/epidemiología