Campylobacter Enteritis among Turkish Children

During a four and a half month period, we examined faecal samples from 340 children with acute enteritis and 100 controls by bacterial culture for pathogens, especially to assess the importance of campylobacter. Campylobacter species were isolated from 36 (10.6%) of diarrheal patients. This isolation rate was higher than the other enteropathogenic bacteria. Campylobacter alone was responsible for the illness in 33 (9.6%) patients. Common symptoms in patients infected with Campylobacter species were diarrhea (100%), fever (44.4%) and abdominal pain (38.8%). In the control group 2 (2%) were found to excrete Campylobacter speices.