Community-based monitoring of diarrhea in urban Brazilian children: incidence and associated pathogens.
Community-based monitoring was conducted in order to investigate the occurrence of diarrhea in 'sentinel areas' of Salvador, Brazil, and to establish a preliminary profile of the most common pathogens present in children's diarrhea by screening stool samples. This report describes the results obtained from twice weekly home visits to identify and follow diarrhea episodes and testing of carer-requested stool sample collection over a 6-month period. Participants were selected from a large longitudinal study in 21 areas representing the city's poorer socioeconomic and sanitary conditions. Fecal samples were examined for the presence of pathogenic bacteria, viruses and protozoa. The mean incidence of diarrhea was 4.97 episodes per child-year, and longitudinal prevalence was 13.6 days per child-year (3.7%). Pathogens were found in 44% of the fecal samples examined. Bacteria were the most frequently encountered pathogens (isolated in 22% of samples), followed by protozoa (19.5%) and viruses (16%). Viral and bacterial pathogens were associated with episodes of severe diarrhea, while viral and protozoan pathogens were associated with longer episodes. The study demonstrated the importance of a public health monitoring system based on 'sentinel areas'.
Barreto
Mauricio L
ML
Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Padre Feijó 20-Canela, 40.110-170 Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. mauricio@ufba.br
Milroy
Craig A
CA
Strina
Agostino
A
Prado
Matildes S
MS
Leite
Jose Paulo
JP
Ramos
Eduardo A G
EA
Ribeiro
Hugo
H
Alcântara-Neves
Neuza M
NM
Teixeira
Maria da Gloria
Mda G
Rodrigues
Laura C
LC
Ruf
Hilda
H
Guerreiro
Hygia
H
Trabulsi
Luiz R
LR
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D014504:Urban Health