[Bacterial, viral and parasitic etiologies of acute infantile diarrhea in a rural Senegal]. / Etiologies bactériennes, virales et parasitaires des diarrhées aigües infantiles en zone rurale sénégalaise.

ABSTRACT

We have studied the incidence of parasites, viruses and bacteria associated with acute infantile diarrhea in rural Senegal. Among parasitoses, Cryptosporidium parvum (7.7%) is the most frequent, followed by Entamoeba histolytica (5.1%). The first bacteriological etiologic agent is Escherichia coli (20.9%). Rotavirus are also frequently isolated (14.7%). Prevalence of pathogens is higher among children over 6 months and under two years old, among children either with mixed feeding or weaned, during the raining season, except for rotaviruses. Breast feeding seems to be a good protective factor against bacterial and parasitological infections but not against rotavirus contaminations.