title: [Hemolytic uremic syndrome associated to shigatoxin producing Escherichia coli in Chilean children: clinical and epidemiological aspects].
abstract: Clinical and epidemiological aspects of shigatoxin producing E. coli (STEC) infections and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) are reviewed. Surveillance results from 14 sentinel centers during 2000-2002 showed a mean incidence rate of 3.4 HUS cases per 100,000 children, with the highest incidence in the 6 to 28 month age group. Disease is endemic with summer peaks. Between 1988 and 2002 we obtained the clinical characteristics of a group of 119 HUS children with the following results: mean age 16 months, bloody diarrhea 57.8%, no previous diarrhea 9%, 60% received antibiotics, 72% had oligoanuria, 53% required dialysis, 15% had seizures and 31% had dizziness; mortality was 3%. Four foodborne outbreaks have been detected in Santiago, two outbreaks occurred in household settings, one in a Day Care Center and one in a Neonatal Unit. Recommendations for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of STEC infections, including potential vaccines are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Chile, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas-ICBM, Programa de Microbiología y Micología. vprado@med.uchile.cl
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Prado J
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cavagnaro S M
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D054323:Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification*