title: Prevalence of Shigella among diarrheic children under-5 years of age attending at Mekelle health center, north Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Shigellosis is recognized as a major global public health problem especially in developing countries particularly in children under-5 years of age. Therefore; the objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Shigella among diarrheic children under-5 years of age attending at Mekelle health center, north Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among diarrheic children under-5 years of age from March to May, 2012. Structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Study participants were recruited by convenience sampling technique. Shigella was isolated and identified using standard bacteriological techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 241 study participants were included in the study. The overall prevalence of Shigella in this study was 13.3% (32/241). High prevalence of Shigella (22.6%) was revealed from the age group of 12-23 months. No Shigella was isolated from the age group of 0-5 months. Majority of the isolates of Shigella were from bloody and mucoid diarrhea.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was high prevalence of Shigella infection in this study. Children among the age group of 12-23 months were highly affected. Therefore; responsible bodies should work hard on preventive measures to reduce or eradicate the problem occurred due to shigellosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, P.O. Box: 1871, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia. atseba_mu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Atsebaha Gebrekidan
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Kahsay
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O.Box. 331, Harar, Ethiopia. zelalemtmariam@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Zelalem
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Teklemariam
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004405:Dysentery, Bacillary / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012760:Shigella / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*