Drug sensitivity pattern of cholera in children.

OBJECTIVE To study the drug sensitivity pattern of cholera in children. SETTING DTU of Civil Hospital, Karachi. PATIENTS AND METHODS All children age 2 months to 15 years attending Diarrhoea Treatment Unit (DTU) with acute onset of diarrhoea and dehydration were screened for cholera. Stool samples were collected in alkaline peptone and those positive for cholera had their antibiotic sensitivity determined. RESULTS Of 846 stool specimens, 161 were positive for V. Cholera. All were sensitive to third generation cephalosporins and quinolones, 98-100% to nalidixic acid, 82-86% to chloramphenicol and 67-75% to doxycycline and all were resistant to cotrimaxazole. CONCLUSION Cholera can be treated with nalidixic acid or chloramphenical in young children while doxycycline for older children. Cotrimoxazole is not effective. Efforts should be done for identification and surveillance of cholera cases, along with change of sensitivity pattern of Vibrio cholera.