Preliminary investigation of diarrhoeal diseases among children in Sanaa, Yemen Arab Republic

A case-control, point-prevalence survey was conducted at the beginning of the diarrhoea season in February 1988. Sixty-four children, aged 3 d to 14 years seeking medical care for acute diarrhoea at the Revolution Hospital and Al Tharwa Clinic, Sanaa, Yemen Arab Republic, were enrolled. Fifty-nine children without diarrhoea were enrolled from the outpatient clinics and nursery of the Revolution Hospital as controls. This preliminary study indicates a significant correlation of Salmonella , EAEC, Cryptosporidium , and Shigella group A with diarrhoea, and comparable rotavirus, Giardia , ETEC and other Shigella rates among cases and controls; and a significantly greater frequency (22% vs 3%) of asymptomatic infections with Campylobacter jejuni/coli . 11 of the 13 asymptomatic infections were in children less than 2 months of age, with an apparent inverse correlation between age and asymptomatic infection, a finding which contrasts with results of investigations conducted in Mexico. These data indicate the need for more extensive studies in this geographical area.