TY - JOUR
T1 - Pediatric diarrhea in Southern Ghana
T2 - Etiology and association with intestinal inflammation and malnutrition
AU - Opintan, Japheth A.
AU - Newman, Mercy J.
AU - Ayeh-Kumi, Patrick F.
AU - Affrim, Raymond
AU - Gepi-Attee, Rosina
AU - Sevilleja, Jesus E.A.D.
AU - Roche, James K.
AU - Nataro, James P.
AU - Warren, Cirle A.
AU - Guerrant, Richard L.
PY - 2010/10
Y1 - 2010/10
N2 - Diarrhea is a major public health problem that affects the development of children. Anthropometric data were collected from 274 children with ( N = 170) and without ( N = 104) diarrhea. Stool specimens were analyzed by conventional culture, polymerase chain reaction for enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC), Shigella, Cryptosporidium, Entamoeba, and Giardia species, and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for fecal lactoferrin levels. About 50% of the study population was mildly to severely malnourished. Fecal lactoferrin levels were higher in children with diarrhea ( P = 0.019). Children who had EAEC infection, with or without diarrhea, had high mean lactoferrin levels regardless of nutritional status. The EAEC and Cryptosporidium were associated with diarrhea ( P = 0.048 and 0.011, respectively), and malnourished children who had diarrhea were often co-infected with both Cryptosporidium and EAEC. In conclusion, the use of DNA-biomarkers revealed that EAEC and Cryptosporidium were common intestinal pathogens in Accra, and that elevated lactoferrin was associated with diarrhea in this group of children.
AB - Diarrhea is a major public health problem that affects the development of children. Anthropometric data were collected from 274 children with ( N = 170) and without ( N = 104) diarrhea. Stool specimens were analyzed by conventional culture, polymerase chain reaction for enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC), Shigella, Cryptosporidium, Entamoeba, and Giardia species, and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for fecal lactoferrin levels. About 50% of the study population was mildly to severely malnourished. Fecal lactoferrin levels were higher in children with diarrhea ( P = 0.019). Children who had EAEC infection, with or without diarrhea, had high mean lactoferrin levels regardless of nutritional status. The EAEC and Cryptosporidium were associated with diarrhea ( P = 0.048 and 0.011, respectively), and malnourished children who had diarrhea were often co-infected with both Cryptosporidium and EAEC. In conclusion, the use of DNA-biomarkers revealed that EAEC and Cryptosporidium were common intestinal pathogens in Accra, and that elevated lactoferrin was associated with diarrhea in this group of children.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79955759217&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0792
DO - 10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0792
M3 - Article
C2 - 20889896
AN - SCOPUS:79955759217
SN - 0002-9637
VL - 83
SP - 936
EP - 943
JO - American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
JF - American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
IS - 4
ER -