Nontyphoidal Salmonella diarrhea in Thai children: a study at Bamrasnaradura Hospital, Nonthaburi, Thailand.

From July 1, 1994 to June 30, 1996, 394 children with Nontyphoidal Salmonella diarrhea were studied at Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Hospital in Thailand. The ages ranged from 1 month to 12 years (mean, 1.4 years). Eighty-seven per cent of patients were in the first 2 years of life. Diarrhea, mostly acute with watery stool and fever were the most common presenting symptoms. The duration of diarrhea ranged from 1 to 20 days (mean, 5.2 days). Salmonella group B was the most common serogroup (56.1%). Most isolates were multiresistant strains, however, they were all sensitive to norfloxacin. Four (1%) patients were HIV-infected. Pneumonia found in 2 patients (0.5%) and septicemia in 1 patient (0.3%). None of the patients died. We conclude that nontyphoidal Salmonella diarrhea in children is still endemic in Thailand, especially among infants and high multidrug resistance occurs.