Author/Authors :
Patel, P.K. Ministry of Health - Department of Health Affairs, Epidemiology Section, Oman , Mercy, J. Ministry of Health - Ibri Regional Referral Hospital - Department of Paediatrics, Oman , Shenoy, J. Ministry of Health - Ibri Regional Referral Hospital - Department of Paediatrics, Oman , Ashwini, B. Ministry of Health - Ibri Regional Referral Hospital - Department of Paediatrics, Oman
Abstract :
To elucidate the bacterial etiology of childhood diarrhoea in Dhahira, 856 children 12 years admitted for diarrhoea to Ibri Regional Referral Hospital from 2000 to 2002 were studied. The mean age was 2.4 (SD 2.3) years; the majority (92.9%) were 5 years. Bacterial etiology was found in 15.2% of cases; 10.6% due to Shigella and 2.1% to Salmonella. Sh. sonnei was the commonest Shigella serogroup isolated. Salmonella infection was significantly associated with cramps, while Shigella infection was associated with fever, bloody stools and cramps. Antibiotics were prescribed in 36.2% of cases and the resistance to the common antibiotics tested was low.
