Diarrhoea and Associated Clinical Features in Different Pathotypes of Diarrheagenic E. coliIsolated in Children: A Case-Control Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital
Abstract
Background: Acute gastroenteritis remains to be a major health problem in children causing high morbidity and mortalityIn India, diarrhoea is the third most common cause of death in children younger than 5 years of age, with an estimation of 300,000 deaths each year. Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) being one of the important bacterial agents, the present hospital-based study was done to enlighten on the occurrence of different pathotypes and clinical features associated with DEC related diarrhoea. Methods:The case-control study was carried out in SCB Medical College, Odisha from October 2014 to September 2016 on the childhood diarrhoea cases (≤ 14 years of age). Stool samples were collected and processed to isolate the causative bacterial agent by standard biochemical test, serotyping and multiplex PCR. Results: 350 cases and 100 controls were included in the study. The different pathotypes of DEC were isolated significantly more in cases than control group (P value = 0.0205) with an isolation rate of 7.4% in cases. 12 (46.2%) of DEC were in 0-1 year age group followed by 1-5 year of age group i.e. 11 (42.3%) and least in 5-14 years of age group i.e. 3 (11.5%). The most common pathotype was Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) followed by Enteropathogenic E.coli (EPEC). Fever is the most common symptom associated with DEC diarrhoea; the other two common symptoms were watery diarrhoea and vomiting. Exclusive breastfeeding was the protective factor. Seasonal variation of DEC…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a case-control, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause.
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