ETIOLOGY OF ACUTE DIARRHEA IN HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN IN RIO-DE-JANEIRO CITY, BRAZIL

Enteropathogens were investigated in 406 children aged 0-3 years with diarrhoea attending the Salles Neto Municipal Hospital. Enteric bacterial pathogens were isolated from 49 per cent of the children. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) (20.9 per cent), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) (16.5 per cent), rotavirus (11.6 per cent), and Campylobacter (9.9 per cent) were the most common agents. Among clinical features, vomiting and fever were significantly associated with Rotavirus isolation (50.0 per cent), respiratory infection with adenovirus (14.3 per cent), bloody diarrhoea with Campylobacter (12.5 per cent), and dehydration with EPEC (71.6 per cent).