PEDBASE.org - The Pediatric Database - Detailed information of AEROMONAS ENTERITIS

AEROMONAS ENTERITIS

DEFINITION:

A bacterial infectious disease of the small bowel caused by A. hydrophilia resulting in a secretory/dysenteric diarrhea.

EPIDEMIOLOGY:

incidence: ?
risk factors:
- age: all ages but usually < 7 years
- season: warm with peak in midsummer
- route: indirect: food, water
- environ: endemic & epidemic
incubation period: ?

PATHOGENESIS:

1. Background

Aeromonas hydrophilia is a gram negative rod
- survives in both fresh and salt water
- also found in soil, and wild/domestic animals
- a heat-labile enterotoxin has been isolated in enteropatho-genic strains but the mechanism of its action is unknown

CLINICAL FEATURES:

1. Diarrhea (3 patterns of presentation)

1. Major

watery diarrhea without blood that resolves in 1 week

2. Intermediate (25%)

mucousy/bloody diarrhea (dysentery) lasting up to 1 month

3. Minor

mucousy/bloody diarrhea (dysentery) lasting up to 3 months
associated symptoms:
- abdominal pain, vomiting, fever

2. Complications

chronic persistent diarrhea
septicemia with secondary involvement of the meninges, bone, eyes, kidney, and muscles

INVESTIGATIONS:

1. Stool

culture and toxin assays

MANAGEMENT:

1. Supportive

oral rehydration fluid (ORF) or intravenous rehydration

2. Medications

TMP/SMX (Septra or Bactrin)

Pediatric Database - AEROMONAS ENTERITIS

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