[Diarrhea in 1,337 children of the Mainz University Clinic: Importance of Salmonella and rotaviruses].
In Germany, infectious diseases cause little mortality, but they are responsible for a large proportion of morbidity. In order to obtain data about the relevance of infectious diarrhea, the charts of 1337 outpatients, hospitalized for this disorder in the time between 1986-1989 at the Children's Hospital, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, were analyzed. Sixty-seven percent of patients were younger than one year. An offending organism could be isolated in 42.1% of patients, with Rotaviruses being the leading cause of diarrhea (415 cases), followed by Salmonella spp. (130 cases). Rotavirus-disease was mainly seen in winter, Salmonella-disease in late summer and in autumn. Severe courses of diarrhea were rare, no patient died. Mean duration of hospitalization was 7 days, independent from the offending organism. Infectious diarrhea is a common disorder in children in Germany, which may lead to hospitalization especially during infancy. Additional epidemiological studies are needed in order to develop effective control measures.
Müller
F M
FM
Kinderklinik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz.
Onder
G
G
Kamin
W
W
Gutjahr
P
P
Schmitt
H J
HJ
D000293:Adolescent; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003681:Dehydration / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012621:Seasons