Shigellosis in Jordanian children: a clinico-epidemiologic prospective study and susceptibility to antibiotics.

During a 2-year prospective study of children hospitalized with gastroenteritis, shigellosis was detected in 66 cases (9 per cent of 726 admissions). The age group for peak shigella incidence was 1-4 years. The incidence increased from 8 per cent in 1991, to 11 per cent in 1992. Shigella flexneri was the most common isolate (65 per cent), followed by Shigella sonnei (17 per cent), Shigella boydi (11 per cent), and Shigella dysenteriae (7 per cent). At presentation, 44 per cent had watery diarrhoea, followed by dysentery during hospitalization in the majority of cases. Seizures occurred in 27 per cent of cases and preceded diarrhoea in 15 per cent. Most Shigella flexneri and dysenteriae strains were resistant to co-trimoxazole, ampicillin, tetracyclin, and chloramphenicol. Nalidixic acid, gentamicin and cefotaxime were the most effective antibacterial agents. Case fatality was 3 per cent associated with strains resistant to the antibiotics used initially in the treatment.