Yakubu, Juliet M.
Federal University Wukari, Nigeria
Title: Prevalence of Diarrhea in children below 60 months in University of Benin teaching hospital (UBTH), Benin city- Nigeria
Biography
Biography: Yakubu, Juliet M.
Abstract
A survey to determine the significance of bacterial species as possible pathogenic microorganism that cause diarrhea was carried out in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria. The prevalence, age, sex, and maternal level of education to their association with diarrhea in children younger than five years of age were determined. Stool specimen from 202 children younger than five years of age were collected and assessed for microbiological profile of enteric pathogens. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed on all identified relevant isolates using disc diffusion method. The prevalence of infectious diarrhea was age specific being highest at the age of 7-12 months and lowest at the age of 37-48 months. Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated bacteria in all age groups(62.8%) However, the isolation rate of Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella species in this study depict these bacteria as veritable aetiological pathogen of infectious childhood diarrhea. The disk diffusion testing for the antibiotic susceptibility illustrates a generally increased resistance by all bacteria strain tested. Periodic laboratory - based survey for bacteria pathogens associated with diarrhea of children should be emphasized to clarify their epidemiological significance and facilitate effective prevention and control.
Key words: Diarrhea, Prevalence, Stool, Bacteria, Antimicrobial susceptibility