Detection of enteropathogens in diarrhoeal diseases among malnourished Egyptian infant and children.

Abstract The influence of the Pre-existing malnutrition (PEM) on the severity of diarrhoea as well as the causative organisms was studied on 60 cases. The duration of diarrhoea was prolonged in cases with PEM. The stool purgative rate ranged from 4-15 times/day in PEM infant while it was 3-6 times in well nourished cases (WNC) (P less than 0.05). Also vomiting and dehydration was more marked among PEM cases (52.9% and 32.4% of cases than in WNC cases (31.3% and 12.5% of cases) (P less than 0.05). Rota virus and Candida albicans were the Commonest identified organisms in the stools of the PEM cases, they were detected in 52% and 38.2% of cases respectively while 25% of WNC had rota virus in their stool and non of them had Candida (P less than 0.02). Giardia lamblia was detected in 23.5% and 18.8% of PEM and WNC while 10% of healthy controls had Giardia. Other bacterial enteropathogen were also found less frequently including Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli, Pseudomonas and Campylobacter. There was no statistical difference in the incidence between both groups. Multiple infections were detected in 47% and 18.7% of PEM cases and WNC (P less than 0.05) and correlated with the severity of illness.