BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES A vicious cycle of infection, malabsorption, and malnutrition has been implicated in the perpetuation of diarrheal disease. This study examined whether persistent diarrhea is associated with changes in selenium status and stool alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) concentration. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN This cross-sectional study included 30 children aged 1-12 years with persis...

BACKGROUND Diarrhea is known to be the major cause of mortality in children aged less than five years old. Although mortality from diarrheal disease is decreasing globally, morbidity is not. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of diarrhea among under-fives and assess knowledge on causes of diarrhea among adults in Mkuranga district Tanzania. METHODS Interviews with h...

BACKGROUND Probiotics have a possible role in the treatment of pediatric acute gastroenteritis. We report the effect of the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) on intestinal function, immune response, and clinical outcomes in Indian children with cryptosporidial or rotavirus diarrhea. METHODS Children with gastroenteritis aged 6 months to 5 years, testing positive for either rotavirus ...

BACKGROUND Diarrhea is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally; yet the overall burden of diarrhea in terms of duration and severity has not been quantified. As improvements in treatment lead to decreases in diarrhea mortality, it is important to understand the substantial impact of diarrhea morbidity on disability among children and adults worldwide. METHODS We conducted a system...

Demonstration of cryptosporidiosis in Mayan Indians living around Lake Atitlan provided an opportunity to correlate infection with abdominal pain and/or diarrhea in different age groups of children. 94 subjects experiencing abdominal pain and/or diarrhea, between the ages of 2 and 13 were studied in towns around Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, over a two-year period. Cryptosporidium oocysts were found...

BACKGROUND Although rotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrhea among children in sub-Saharan Africa, better knowledge of circulating enteric pathogenic bacteria and their antimicrobial resistance is crucial for prevention and treatment strategies. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS As a part of rotavirus gastroenteritis surveillance in Maradi, Niger, we performed stool culture on a sub-pop...

Role of micronutrients namely vitamin A, zinc and folate, as adjunct therapy of illness episodes in children in developing countries have been discussed in the light of health policy. Apart from a selective review, attempts have been made to statistically combine results of several studies to address policy issues. In children, vitamin A supplementation during illness has (a) a profound effect ...

Findings are presented from an assessment of the impact of potable water supply, mother's literacy, toilet type, socioeconomic status, family size, housing, hygienic practices, and malnutrition upon the frequency of diarrheal episodes among children of low socioeconomic status living in the urban slums of East Delhi, India. The mothers of 450 consecutive children with acute diarrhea attending ...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The commensal bacterial flora of the colon may undergo changes during diarrhea, owing to colonization of the intestine by pathogens and to rapid intestinal transit. This study used molecular methods to determine changes in the composition of selected commensal anaerobic bacteria during and after acute diarrhea in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fecal samples were obta...