title: Clinical features of acute gastroenteritis in children at university of Nigeria teaching hospital, ituku-ozalla, enugu.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children world-wide with the highest incidence in the developing countries. The persistence and effect of this condition require a study of the features and characteristics of the disease especially, within any (each) locality in order to offer possible control solutions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine, the clinical and social characteristics associated with AGE among children seen in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu.
  
  
  METHODS
  A hospital-based population study in which children admitted in the children emergency room of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital whose parents/caregivers gave their consent were enrolled, over a 7 month period. Appropriate statistical tools: Chi-square, t-tests, correlation and logistic regression were used to determine significant values and associations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 76 children with AGE were enrolled; 69.7% (53/76) were males. The mean age of the subjects was 11.3 (6.6) months. Majority 94.7%, (72/76) of cases of AGE occurred in children less than 24 months, with children 6-11 months contributing the highest percentage 42%, (32/76). The study population was predominantly urban dwellers; 78.9%, (60/76, P = 0.40) and water cistern constituted 77.6% (58/76) of waste disposal method. Those who had potable water supply were 23.7%, (18/76, P = 0.30) and 19.7% of the children were exclusively breast fed. Fever and vomiting were the commonest associated symptoms, occurring in 82.9% (63/76) and 73.7% (56/76) of the subjects respectively. A good percentage of the subjects 64.5%, (49/76) had ORS before presentation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AGE is more common in older infants among those who were not exclusively breast-fed and the severity was unrelated to place of domicile and waste disposal habits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Federal Medical Center, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Bu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ezeonwu
authors.forename: Ca
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ibeneme
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aneke
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oguonu
keywords: Enugu; Gastroenteritis; Older infants