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Infantile diarrhoea and malnutrition associated with Candida in a developing community
Author(s) -
Klingspor L.,
Stitzing G.,
Johansen K.,
Murtaza A.,
Holmberg K.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
mycoses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.13
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1439-0507
pISSN - 0933-7407
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0507.1993.tb00682.x
Subject(s) - malnutrition , diarrhea , medicine , nutrition disorders , pediatrics , intensive care medicine , environmental health , research methodology , population
Summary. The association of infantile diarrhoea with the occurrence of Candida species and their different morphological cell forms (pseudo‐hyphae and/or blastospores) in faeces was studied in children of 0–15 months in a developing community (Lahore, Pakistan) where malnutrition is prevalent. Stool samples from 119 patients admitted to the Diarrhoea Treatment Unit, Department of Pediatrics, King Edward Medical College, and 46 healthy children were investigated for yeasts, bacteria, viruses and parasites. Salmonella and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli were seen in 13 (11%) each of the cases while Candida was the most frequent micro‐organism, grown in cultures from 38 (32%) of the diarrhoea cases. C. tropicalis dominated (19%) over C. albicans (6%) and C. parapsilosis (3%). However, in a great number of cases (23, equals 19%), Candida did not grow in cultures but blastospores and/or pseudohyphae were seen on microscopical examination. Other Candida species and yeasts were relatively more common in the control group. Candida albicans, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis were the only identified agents in 23 of the cases (19%). The characteristic clinical findings in children with Candida as the only identified pathogen were malnutrition (69%), age less than 8 months (goyo), and microscopically identified pseudohyphae in faecal smears (71%). Zusammenfassung. Es wurde die Assoziation zwischen Diarrhöe und Cundida‐Besiedlung unter‐schiedlicher Morphe‐Phasen (Pseudohyphen und/oder Blastosporen) an 0–15 Monate alten Kindern in einem Entwicklungsland (Lahore, Pakistan) untersucht, wo Unterernährung vor‐herrscht. Stuhlproben von 119 Patienten der Diarrhöe‐Behandlungseinheit der Kinderklinik des King Edward Medical College und von 46 gesunden Kindern wurden auf Hefen, Bakterien, Viren und Parasiten untersucht. Salmonella und enteropathogene Escherichia coli wurden bei 13 Patienten (11%) isoliert, während Candida bei 38 Patienten (32%) der Diarrhöe‐Gruppe gefunden wurde und eine Spitzenposition einnahm. C. tropicalis (19%) dominierte über C. albicans (6%) und C. parapsilosis (3%). Zu einem beträcht‐lichen Anteil, bei 23 Patienten (19%), wuchs Candida nicht in der Kultur, aber Blastosporen und/oder Pseudohyphen konnten mikroskopisch nachgewiesen werden. Sonstige Candida‐Arten und andere Hefen überwogen in der Kontrollgruppe. C. albicans, C. tropicalis und C. parapsilosis waren bei 23 Patienten (19%) die einzigen nachgewiesenen Erreger. Die charakteri‐stischen klinischen Befunde bei Kindern mit Candida als alleinigem Erreger waren: Unterernährung (69%), Alter <8 Monate (90%) und mikroskopischer Nachweis von Pseudohyphen im Stuhlausstrich (71%).