title: [Diarrhea caused by Campylobacter fetus jejuni and other infective agents in children of the rural area of Puriscal, Costa Rica].
abstract: Between September 1979 and September 1981 a field study was conducted on the etiology of diarrheal disease in the area of Puriscal, Costa Rica. The presence of enteric pathogens was investigated in the stools of 267 diarrheic children and 190 healthy controls. Both groups belong to yearly cohorts recruited at birth as part of a longitudinal multidisciplinary study of mothers and children. Campylobacter fetus jejuni was identified as the only pathogen in the stools of 24 diarrheic children (9%) and in four healthy controls (2%), a significant difference (p less than 0,05). The clinical features of the episodes were: irritability (77%), blood in stools (35%), anorexia (38,5%), and fever and vomiting (36%). Dehydration was not important among infected children (only one with 5% dehydration). All children received oral salt solutions and only two were treated with antibiotics. Rotaviruses were the main etiologic agents (17%) and Campylobacter ranked second (10,5%). The frequency of enterotoxigenic Enterobacteriaceae was similar in sick children and in controls (10% and 12% respectively).
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001835:Body Weight; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D002168:Campylobacter fetus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003364:Costa Rica; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000209:etiology*; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
vernacular_title: Diarrea por Campylobacter fetus jejuni y otros agentes infecciosos en niños del área rural de Puriscal, Costa Rica.