Acute diarrhoea in adults: aetiology, clinical appearance and therapeutic aspects.
A prospective study of acute diarrhoea was performed during 15 months 1981/1982 and included 731 patients and 240 controls. 43% had been infected abroad. A cluster of travellers with bacterial pathogens was diagnosed in July-August. The following pathogens were found: Campylobacter (18%), enterotoxigenic E. coli (6%), Salmonella spp. (5%), rotavirus (4%), Yersinia enterocolitica (3%), Giardia lamblia (3%), Shigella spp. (2%), Clostridium difficile (2%), enteroviruses (2%) and Entamoeba histolytica (less than 1%). More than 90% of the bacterial or parasitic enteropathogens were detected in the first stool sample. Only 10% of the patients needed hospital treatment and for 97% oral fluids were sufficient. The median duration of diarrhoea was 9 days. No fatal cases occurred and only 2 cases of chronic bowel disease were detected.
Svanteson
B
B
Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Lund, General Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
Thorén
A
A
Castor
B
B
Barkenius
G
G
Bergdahl
U
U
Tufvesson
B
B
Hansson
H B
HB
Möllby
R
R
Juhlin
I
I
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002167:Campylobacter / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors; D014195:Travel; D014504:Urban Health; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents