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Campylobacter jejuni/coli (CJC) was isolated from the stools of 82 (1 per cent) of 7369 children with gastrointestinal symptoms during a 2-year period. Among 1130 control children, CJ was isolated from the stool of one (0.09 per cent). The peak incidence of CJC associated gastroenteritis was in the winter. Seventy-six per cent of the patients were 4 years of age and younger with the highest incidence (56 per cent) in children 2 years old and younger. The most common presenting symptoms and signs were diarrhoea (95 per cent), anorexia (71 per cent), abdominal pain (70 per cent), high fever (57 per cent), and frank blood in stools (48 per cent). In five (6 per cent) patients CJC isolates were resistant to erythromycin. In all patients CJC infection was self-limited and the majority of patients required only supportive therapy.

Between 1981 and 1986, 1,540 infants born at the Central Women's Hospital in Rangoon were transferred to the Sick Baby Unit because of diarrhea (15.4 per 1,000 live births). Rates among cesarean infants were five times as high as those of infants born vaginally (51.0 and 10.3 per 1000 live births, respectively). One hundred eighty-four of the infants with diarrhea died (case fatality rate = 12 percent). We conclude that neonatal diarrhea is endemic in this large maternity hospital in Burma, and that control efforts should be targeted especially to cesarean and low birthweight infants.

Seventy enterotoxigenic Esch. coli strains (18LT+; 46ST+ and 6LT+ST †) isolated from infants and children with acute diarrhea were studied for the prevalence of R factor and also for enterotoxin (Ent†) plasmid transfer. These strains were received at the National Salmonella and Escherichia Centre, Central Research Institute, Kasauli during 1981. Sixty one strains were found to be resistant to two or more drugs and 9 were sensitive to all the drugs. Of the total, 24 (34·2%) strains showed the presence of conjugative plasmid; of these 10 (41%) strains showed transfer of Ent† plasmid, of the 24 strains 6 strains were positive for LT and 18 for ST. Of the 6 LT† strains which showed presence of R factor, Ent+ plasmid could be demonstrated in four strains and out of 18 ST† strains Ent† plasmid could be transferred in six Esch. coli strains.

The random migration and chemotactic ability of neutrophils from ten patients with uncomplicated measles was found to be grossly impaired when compared to a group of normal children. Chemotaxis to endotoxin activated serum and to hydrolysed casein was markedly depressed, but serum from measles patients, when activated by endotoxin, generated normal chemotactic activity and did not contain leukotactic inhibitors. The defect in neutrophil motility was confirmed in vivo by abnormal rebuck skin windows. The defect was temporary, and recovery of normal chemotaxis was observed by the eleventh day after the onset of the rash.

The isolation of pathogenic fungi from heavily contaminated material has always been difficult uptil now. Brain Heart Infusion medium containing 30 units of penicillin and 40 units of streptomycin has been found to be the best medium for the isolation of pathogenic fungi. Better results have been obtained by using Achromycin in place of penicillin and streptomycin.