[Infections caused by Campylobacter jejuni in the pediatric department of the Leoben district hospital 1983-1993].

Over the period 1983-1993 10,344 stool cultures were undertaken in children with gastrointestinal symptoms at the pediatric department of the Landeskrankenhaus Leoben. Campylobacter jejuni was diagnosed as pathogen in 238 cultures taken from 196 patients aged one month to 16 years. Thus, Campylobacter jejuni infections (2.3% of all stool cultures) were second in frequency to various forms of salmonella (6.1% of all stool cultures; 332 patients). Apart from diarrhea (92% of cases), the most frequent clinical features were fever exceeding 38 degrees C (61%), abdominal pain (58%), blood in the stools (48%) and vomiting (34%). Treatment was based on appropriate diet. Fluid replacement with glucose-electrolyte infusions was required in 24% of the patients and erythromycin was administered orally in 30% of cases.