| Abstract: | Stool speciment from 236 children admitted to Harare Hospital with acute diarrhea were examined for bacterial, viral and parasitic pathogens. Results were compared with specimens from 192 control patients admitted to the same hospital for other reasons. C. jejuni (13,6% diarrhea, 2,1% controls) and E. coli (10,3% diarrhea, 2,6% controls) were the most common pathogens isolated, and were isolated only from children under 2 years of age. Other bacterial pathogens were isolated from older children as well as infants, while parasites were isolated mainly from children 2 years of age. Virus particles were detected by electron microscopy in only 2 patients, both with diarrhea. Of the E. coli strains isolated from children with diarrhea, the majority belonged to 5 serotypes and these serotypes were uncommon in controls. The significance of C. jejuni as a major cause of summer diarrhea in infants in Zimbabwe is demonstrated, but further studies are recommended to investigate microbial pathogens in older children and in winter months. |
