Yersinia enterocolitica infection in children: 4 years experience in the Montreal urban community.

From 1973 to 1976, a total of 146 strains of Yersinia enterocolitica was isolated from children at the Ste. Justine Hospital and Montreal Children's Hospital. All strains tested were of serotype 0:3, biotype 4. The majority (80%) of children from whom Y. enterocolitica was isolated were under 5 years of age and in 74 of 93 cases reviewed diarrhea was the predominant symptom. Case reports on 2 patients with unusual clinical features are also presented.