Clinicopathogenic studies of acute diarrhea in children.

OBJECTIVE

To identify etiologic pathogens of acute diarrhea in children and to determine the diagnostic value of stool pH.

METHODS

From May 1988 to April 1992, 368 children with acute diarrhea were studied. Fresh stools were routinely examined, and stool pH was tested with pH paper. Samples were placed in Cary-Blair culture medium and were sent to the lab for bacterial isolation and identification. Rotavirus was identified in the supernatant by ELISA.

RESULTS

Thirty-one pathogens and 385 bacterial strains were found in the 368 samples, with a detection rate of 67.7%, including 37.8% of mixed infections. Among the bacteria families, vibrionaceae was the most common (39.7%), and among bacteria genera, aeromonas was the most common (26.8%). In bacterial diarrhea, stool pH tended to be basic, while in viral diarrhea it tended to be acidic.

CONCLUSIONS

There are 31 pathogens for children's acute diarrhea in this area. It is quite difficult to make an etiologic diagnosis only by clinical signs. However, stool pH is of some value for early disease diagnosis.