Studies on diarrhoeal illness among hospitalized children under 5 years of age in Baghdad during 1990-97

A retrospective study of all infants and children admitted to two paediatric teaching hospitals in Baghdad city complaining of acute diarrhoea during 1990-1997 was carried out. Of all children admitted, 14.9% were for diarrhoea, 55.5% of whom of were under 1 year of age. The peak incidence was at 3-6 months and tended to be during the summer months. In 97% of cases only one pathogen was identified, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli being the most frequently isolated organism, isolated from 13% of the patients. The proportion of deaths associated with diarrhoea was 28.6%. The documented frequency and patterns of occurrence of diarrhoeal disease emphasize the need for improved diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic measures against this potentially life-threatening condition.