The etiology of childhood diarrhea in northern coastal Peru: the 1989 Fuerzas Unidas Humanitarian Civic Action--a model for international and interservice cooperation, community service, and scientific opportunity

Mil Med. 1991 Aug;156(8):402-5.

Abstract

As a humanitarian civic action project, American and Peruvian military medical personnel established a temporary clinic in Dos Palos, Peru. Fecal specimens from 20 diarrheic children and 10 non-diarrheic controls were tested for common agents of diarrhea. Enteropathogens detected in diarrheic stools were enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC; 30%), Aeromonas (20%), enteropathogenic E. coli (15%), and Campylobacter (15%). Isolates from control specimens were Aeromonas (10%) and Campylobacter (10%). ETEC-associated diarrhea was more common in this study (30%) than in three similar populations studied in Lima (2-16%). The results suggest that the northern coastal area of Peru is a relatively high-risk area for diarrhea caused by ETEC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Child, Preschool
  • Diarrhea, Infantile / microbiology*
  • Escherichia coli / isolation & purification
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • International Cooperation
  • Male
  • Medical Missions
  • Military Medicine
  • Peru
  • United States