Campylobacter enteritis among children in Dembia District, Northwest Ethiopia

Objective: To estimate the magnitude of Campylobacter enteritis in children below fifteen years of age.Design: A cross-sectional survey.Setting: Seven villages found in the outskirts of Kolla Diba town were covered. The town is located 35 kilometres away from Gondar teaching hospital.Participants: Stool specimens were collected from 153 children under fifteen years of age. Caretakers of the children were interviewed using a structured questionnaire.Main outcome measures: Culture result for Campylobacter, culture and biochemical test results for Salmonella and Shigella and direct microscopy results for parasites or ova measures.Results: The prevalence of Campylobacter species was 16/153 (10.5%) and the frequency of isolation was twice as much as Salmonella or Shigella species (5.2% each). Contact with cats and diarrhoea-sick person in the household was associated with isolation of Campylobacter species.Conclusion: Based on the finding and the evidence accumulated, clinical health professionals need to consider Campylobacter species as one of the major causes of diarrhoea in children.