Abstract

Aim: The aim of this work has been a presentation of causes of acute infectious diarrhea. Material and methodology: The examinees have been the infants treated at the Pediatric Clinic. The diagnosis has been established on the basis of anamnesis, physical examination and feces examination on bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi. Results: During the period of seven years a number of patients that suffered from acute infectious diarrhea was 1050 (31.82%) out of a total number (3300) with diarrhea. The bacteriological examination proved positive on majority of them or in 655 (62.38%) cases, the viral examination proved positive in 375 (35.72%) cases, whereas fungi examination proved positive in only 3 cases (0.28%). The most frequent bacteria have been Salmonellae species in 255 (38.93%) cases and E. coli in 142 (21.69%) cases, the less frequent have been Yersinia enterocolitica in 16 (2.44.%) cases and Bacillus cereus in 4 (0.61%) cases. The most frequent serotypes of Salmonella have been S.Wien in 92 (36.07%) and S.Gloucester in 42 (16.47%) cases. Enteropathogenic E. Coli (most frequent serotypes O111 and O55) has been found in 112 (78.88%) cases. From the group of Shigella the most frequent has been Sh. Flexneri (most frequent serotypes 6 and 4) in 35 (58.33%) cases. The same feces sample of the majority of examinees 501 (76.48%) cases contained only one bacteria (single bacteria), two bacteria (associated bacteria) have been found in 102 (15.17%) cases, three types of bacteria have been found in 17 (2.59%) cases. Rotavirus has been isolated in 271 (72.26%) cases in comparison to adenoviruses that have been isolated in 65 (17.33%) cases. Rotavirus and adenoviruses have been isolated in 39 (10.40%) cases. Conclusion: Infectious acute diarrhea appears frequently, and as causes of it usually appear to be pathogenic bacteria in comparison to viruses, protozoa and fungi.

Key words: Acute diarrhea, etiology.