Epidemiology of shigellosis with special reference to hospital distribution of Shigella strains in Tehran

Background: Infection caused by Shigella species are an important cause of diarrheal disease, in both developing and developed countries. Shigellosis is one of the major causes of morbidity in children with diarrhea in Iran. Aim of this study, was to investigate the epidemiology of shigellosis with special reference to hospital distribution of Shigella strains in Tehran between December 2002 and November 2003. Materials and methods: Enteritis cases admitted at the Children Medial Center and Mofid, Baqiyatallah, Millad and Firozabadi hospitals in Tehran, Iran were included in this study. Fecal specimens and rectal swabs were cultured and identified for Shigella species using standard microbiological techniques. Results: One hundred and forty one, 102, 56 and 3 Shigella strains were isolated from patients admitted to Children’s Hospital Medial Center, Mofid, Milad, and other hospitals respectively. Shigella was isolated frequently from children under 5 years of age, who were accounted for 55.7% of all isolates. About 39.7 % of all isolates came from patients aged 5-12 years, and 4.3% from patients aged over 12 years of age. Conclusion: Shigellosis is one of the most important infectious diseases in Iran. Results of our research have revealed that Shigella is still one of the most important causes of diarrhea among children in Tehran, Iran. The prevention of Shigella infections in children is an essential approach to control of shigellosis in the country.