Enteropathogens associated with the seasonal fuctuations in plasma sodium and potassium levels in childhood diarrhoea

Abstract

This paper aims to assess the clinical, nutritional, microbiological, environmental and socio-economic determinants that have a seasonal distribution, or are potential confounders of a seasonal association of previously described seasonal fuctuations in plasma sodium and potassium concentrations in children with dehydrating diarrhoea. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted from 15 April 2002 to 14 April 2003 of 350 children aged six weeks to two years admitted to the diarrhoea rehydration unit of a children's hospital in Cape Town. Multiple linear regression analysis showed the plasma sodium levels to be statistically signifcantly associated with age [-0.3 mmol/l per month of age, 95% confdence interval (CI): -0.2, -0.4], enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infection [-2.1 mmol/l, 95% CI: -4, -0.2], enteropathogenic E. coli infection [-5.1 mmol/l, 95% CI: -7.1, -3.1], being breastfed [1.9 mmol/l, 95% CI: 0.4, 3.4] and living in a brick house [2.7 mmol/l, 95% CI: 0.8, 4.5]. Plasma potassium levels w...