Campylobacter enteritis among children in Dembia District, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross-sectional survey was conducted at 7 villages in Ethiopia between April and May 1998 to estimate the magnitude of C. enteritis in children aged 15 years. Stool specimens were collected from 153 children. Caretakers of the children were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Culture result for Campylobacter, culture and biochemical test results for Salmonella and Shigella, and direct microscopy results for parasites or ova measures were determined. The prevalence of Campylobacter species was 16/153 (10.5%) and the frequency of isolation was twice as much as Salmonella or Shigella species (5.2% each). Contact with cats and diarrhoea-sick person in the household was associated with isolation of Campylobacter species. Clinical health professionals need to consider Campylobacter species as one of the major causes of diarrhoea in children.