Epidemiology, clinical course and impact on hospitalization costs of acutediarrhea among hospitalized children in Athens, Greece

The aim of this study was to describe the etiology, morbidity and hospitali zation costs associated with acute diarrhea among hospitalized children in Greece. During 1999, 294 hospitalized children (median age 1 y) with acute diarrhea were prospectively studied. Bacterial and viral enteropathogens we re detected in 100 (34%) and 37 (12.5%) patients, respectively; 17 (6%) pat ients had mixed infections. Isolated agents included Salmonella spp. (43 pa tients; 15%), rotavirus (32; 11%), Campylobacter spp. (26; 9%), enteropatho genic Escherichia coli (16; 5.5%), Shigella spp. (11; 4%), Aeromonas spp. ( 7; 2.5%), adenovirus (6; 2%), Yersinia enterocolitica (6; 2%), enterohemorr hagic Escherichia coli (2; 0.5%) and Giardia lamblia (1; 0.5%). Of the pati ents with bacterial infection, 70% were admitted between April and Septembe r 1999. A rotavirus-associated peak was noted in March. Patients with a bac terial infection were hospitalized for longer periods than those with viral infections. It is concluded that bacterial enteropathogens account for one -third of admissions due to acute diarrhea among children in Greece and are associated with significant hospitalization costs. Rotavirus is also a fre quent cause of acute diarrhea necessitating hospitalization.