title: [Clinical and microbiological features of Salmonella gastroenteritis in children].
abstract: The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of Salmonella spp in children hospitalised for acute gastroenteritis, and to study clinical and microbiological features of paediatric salmonellosis in our geographical area. In all, 540 patients admitted from March to September 2003 with symptoms of acute enteritis to the Infectious Diseases department of the "G. Di Cristina" hospital in Palermo were enrolled. Stool samples were collected within 48 hours of admission and tested for intestinal pathogens (bacterial, viral, parasites). Salmonella spp was detected in 18.5% of samples. The median age of infected children was 4.5 years. Salmonella enteritidis (49%) and Salmonella typhimurium (37%) were the most commonly identified genotypes. S. enteritidis infection was more frequently characterized by vomiting (65.3%) and dehydration (61.2%). Bloody diarrhoea was more common in S. typhimurium infection (40.5%). All strains were susceptible to ceftriaxone, while 40% of strains were resistant to tetracyclines and 37% to ampicillin.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Patologia Infettiva e Virologia, Università di Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saporito
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colomba
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scarlata
authors.forename: Vatentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Li Vecchi
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mammina
authors.forename: Lucina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Titone
mesh_terms: D000257:Adenoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003681:Dehydration / Q000209:etiology; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004405:Dysentery, Bacillary / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D012475:Salmonella / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012478:Salmonella Food Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013045:Species Specificity