ENTERIC PATHOGENIC BACTERIA AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN DIARRHOEIC AND DYSENTERIC CHILDREN IN SOKOTO STATE, NIGERIA
CHAPTER ONE
1.0Â INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
Diarrhoea is termed as a situation when a person passes more stool than is normal, passing three or more loose or liquid stools per day. Diarrhoea in children can be caused by a variety of pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Among the bacteria, Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella, Shigella and Yersinia Species are known to be the most common and economically important agents (Britton and Veraslovic, 2008) but other bacteria, e.g. enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and Campylobacter coli have also been identified as causes of enteric disease and diarrhoea in children (Britton and Veraslovic, 2008).
Every year, diarrhoeal diseases contribute to 1.7 million deaths worldwide, mainly in children under the age of 5 years particularly in developing countries (WHO, 2009). Even in industrialized countries, the burden of diarrhoeal diseases is substantial, but in most cases, the etiology is unknown (Richard et al., 2006). Infectious diarrhoea still represents a common public health issue. More than three-quarters of the world population is affected and 1–2 illnesses per person are recorded annually. However, in about 50% of cases, the causative agent remains unknown.
At present, the widespread occurrence of infectious diarrhoea has become one of the major public health problems worldwide. Therefore, a rapid response, which includes identification of the pathogens and prevention of the spread of these pathogens in the community, is crucial for the control of disease outbreak and case investigations (Yuanhai et al., 2008). Transmission of enteric pathogens often occurs through the consumption of contaminated food and water. Although a detailed diagnosis and treatment is usually not required, in outbreak situations, especially in community that share facilities or camps, the causative organism must be identified quickly to prevent further spread. Furthermore, clinicians need an early diagnosis for the effective treatment of the severely ill patients (Guerrant et al., 2001).
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ENTERIC PATHOGENIC BACTERIA AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN DIARRHOEIC AND DYSENTERIC CHILDREN IN SOKOTO STATE, NIGERIA
