Faecal candida and diarrhoea

Background-Candida species are frequently isolated from stools of children with diarrhoea but are not proven enteropathogens. It is hypothesised that faecal candida causes diarrhoea. Aims-To determine the prevalence of faecal candida in childhood diarrhoea a nd the relation between faecal yeasts and diarrhoea. Methods-Comparison of clinical and laboratory data, including quantitative stool culture for yeasts from 107 children hospitalised with diarrhoea and 67 age matched controls without diarrhoea. Results-Yeast species, predominantly candida, were identified in the stools of 43 children (39%) with diarrhoea and 26 (36%) without diarrhoea. The co ncentration of candida was positively associated with recent antibiotic use (p = 0.03) and with the presence of another enteric pathogen (p < 0.005), but not with patient age, nutritional status, or duration of diarrhoea. Conclusion-Candida species do not cause childhood diarrhoea in well nourish ed children.