Abstract
Background: Campylobacter, a well-known enteropathogen among children shows variable clinical presentations. Age groups and seasonal distribution is dependent on geographical position. Objectives: To explore clinical manifestations and seasonal variation of Campylobacter infection and to study its importance as enteric pathogen among children. Patients and Methods: Two hundred five children (≤12 years age) having acute diarrhea as cases and 100 children without from diarrhea were taken as control. All the fecal samples were processed for Campylobacter species by culture on to modified charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate agar and Skirrow’s Columbia blood agar media. Detection of Campylobacter specific antigen in faecal samples was also done by enzyme-immuno assay. Results: A total of 32 (15.61%) faecal samples of children with diarrhea had positive results for Campylobacter spp. Among them 31.25% cases had polymicrobial infections. Children below 1 year were most commonly (18.96%) affected by the infection. The organism was isolated throughout the year with a higher isolation rates during summer and monsoon months. Watery diarrhea was significantly more common in the Campylobacter infected cases. Conclusions: Application of antigen assay increases detection rate of Campylobacter enteritis cases, which was significantly higher than the control group (P < .05). Specific clinical profile could not be associated with this infection which, indicates need of microbiological diagnosis of this pathogen for antibiotic therapy.
Highlights
Campylobacter, a well-known enteropathogen among children shows variable clinical presentations
Among 32 positive cases, 22 (68.75%) children were infected with C. jejuni as a sole pathogen, whereas 10 (31.25%) cases had polymicrobial infections
High number of co-infection with diarrheagenic E. coli and rotavirus among Campylobacter positive cases was found in Vellore.[18]
Summary
Campylobacter, a well-known enteropathogen among children shows variable clinical presentations. Conclusions: Application of antigen assay increases detection rate of Campylobacter enteritis cases, which was significantly higher than the control group (P < .05). Campylobacter species are primarily zoonotic, with a wide variety of wild and domestic animals, especially birds implicated as reservoir They mainly cause foodborne gastroenteritis following ingestion of chicken, raw milk, untreated water and contact with pets, especially household live chickens. The epidemiology, clinical presentations and microbial profile are not similar in these two economical world territories.[6] Application of newer, sensitive molecular diagnostic methods beside culture might play role behind the increasing detection rate of this fastidious, microaerophilic organism.[7,8] It is present as colonized gastrointestinal flora and as asymptomatic carrier commonly in children, but it causes severe gastroenteritis among young children
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