[Diarrhoea-causing agents in children aged less than five in Tunja, Colombia].
OBJECTIVE
Determining the prevalence and type of infectious ADD-causing agents in a sample of children aged less than five who consulted the IPS in Tunja during 2004.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was designed. Data was obtained by surveying 129 children younger than 5 suffering from ADD. Samples of faeces were obtained following outpatient consultation at San Rafael Hospital and SaludCoop's clinic in Tunja.


RESULTS
Rotavirus was found in 48.1% of cases, Shigella in 0.8%, E. coli in 13.9%, Campylobacter in 2.3%, Giardia lamblia in 12.4% and E. hitolytica in 7%. The causative agent could not be identified in 15.5% of cases. The statistical association grew with age for Rotavirus (p < 0.01), E. coli (p < 0.05) and campylobacter (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Rotavirus is the major causative agent of ADD in children younger than one year and, generally, in children aged less than five. The prevalence found was similar to data reported in studies carried out in Facatatativá, Bogotá, Santander, Manizales and the Chocó in Colombia and studies carried out in Venezuela, Peru and Mexico.
Manrique-Abril
Fred G
FG
Escuela de Medicina-Enfermería Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Columbia. gisp@tunja.uptc.edu.co
Tigne y Diane
Billon
B
Bello
Sandra E
SE
Ospina
Juan M
JM
D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003681:Dehydration / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D004405:Dysentery, Bacillary / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000453:epidemiology; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors