Studies on diarrhoeal illness among hospitalized children under 5 years of age in Baghdad during 1990-97.
A retrospective study of all infants and children admitted to two paediatric teaching hospitals in Baghdad city complaining of acute diarrhoea during 1990-1997 was carried out. Of all children admitted, 14.9% were for diarrhoea, 55.5% of whom of were under 1 year of age. The peak incidence was at 3-6 months and tended to be during the summer months. In 97% of cases only one pathogen was identified, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli being the most frequently isolated organism, isolated from 13% of the patients. The proportion of deaths associated with diarrhoea was 28.6%. The documented frequency and patterns of occurrence of diarrhoeal disease emphasize the need for improved diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic measures against this potentially life-threatening condition.
College of Medical and Health Technology, Baghdad, Iraq.
H I
HI
Tawfeek
N H
NH
Najim
S
S
Al-Mashikhi
D000208:Acute Disease; D017677:Age Distribution; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D019453:Escherichia coli O157; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007493:Iraq / Q000453:epidemiology; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data