European Journal of Scientific Research - EuroJournals

Aetiology and Epidemiology of Sever Infantile Diarrhoea in Baghdad, Iraq 362
Hill, England). E. coli colonies were also screened for enterotoxin production. Heat-labile toxin (LT)
was detected by the Biken method [23] using immunodiffusion assay.
C- Quality controls for laboratory investigation
Two sets of Quality-control specimens were set up each month by mixing a known quantity of
bacterial cells of Salmonella, Shigella, and Campylobacter with an autoclaved stool specimen to give
concentrations in the range of 10 2 to 10 6 per gram of stool. One set was transported to the wards and
returned via the normal specimen delivery procedures. The remaining set was immediately processed
for bacterial culture.
D-Detection of Rotavirus
Stool specimens were also examined for rotavirus antigens by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
(ELISA). A 10% suspension of each stool sample was made in phosphate-buffered saline and the
presence of rotavirus antigens was detected by ELISA kits provided by Word Health Organization.
Samples were examined in duplicate and positive specimens were confirmed by ELISA-blocking assay
using hyper-immune rotavirus antiserum as described by Beards and others[24].
Blood culture was done when it was possible
One hundred stool specimens were collected from children under 2 years of age admitted to the
hospital for other illnesses and were used as control group, these specimens were tested for the
presence of entropathogens provided that they did not show diarrhoea two weeks before and another
week after taking the specimens for examination.
ORT (WHO formula-Table 1) 100ml/Kg/4h was given for rehydration in which breast milk or
diluted milk formula was administered alternatively with ORT until diarrhoea diminished.
Antimicrobial agents were given to patients with Shigella, Campylobacter and parasitic infestation.
The evaluation of the clinical picture in general, and the state of hydration in particular, was done every
4 hours in the first 24 hours, and then less frequently after that.
Results
The present study reveals that 68(34%) of the admitted cases were severely dehydrated and the rest
132(66%) were moderately dehydrated according to the WHO & MMWR [19, 25] classification. The
group studies was composed of 108(51%) male and 92(49) female.
Seasonal incidence: 44% of the cases were occurred during summer and the lowest rate was in
winter (14.5%) as was shown in Figure (1)