Ke. Stewien et al., VIRAL, BACTERIAL AND PARASITIC PATHOGENS ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERE DIARRHEA IN THE CITY OF SAO-PAULO, BRAZIL, Journal of diarrhoeal diseases research, 11(3), 1993, pp. 148-152
Viral, bacterial and parasitic pathogens associated with diarrhoea wer
e studied in infants and young children admitted to the paediatric cli
nic of the University Hospital of Sao Paulo during the period of 13 mo
nths. A recognised pathogenic organism was detected in 78% of the diar
rhoeic patients, 6% of whom had a mixed infection with two agents. Ent
eropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) was the most common enteropathogen detect
ed (22%), followed by rotavirus (19%) and adenovirus (10%). Altogether
6% had diarrhoea associated with Salmonella or Shigella and 3% showed
diarrhoeal illness associated with astrovirus. Infants less than 6 mo
nths of age were most commonly infected with enterobacteria (35%), mai
nly enteropathic E. coli (30%), whereas children 6 months to 2 years p
resented more often with viruses (38%), mainly rotaviruses (25%). Ente
ropathogens were found during all seasons of the year and rotaviruses
showed a seasonal variation.