ral ssBioMed CentBMC Infectious Diseases Open AcceResearch article Acute childhood diarrhoea in northern Ghana: epidemiological, clinical and microbiological characteristics

Background: Acute diarrhoea is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Its microbiological causes and clinico-epidemiological aspects were examined during the dry season 2005/6 in Tamale, urban northern Ghana. Methods: Stool specimens of 243 children with acute diarrhoea and of 124 control children were collected. Patients were clinically examined, and malaria and anaemia were assessed. Rota-, astro-, noro- and adenoviruses were identified by (RT-) PCR assays. Intestinal parasites were diagnosed by microscopy, stool antigen assays and PCR, and bacteria by culturing methods. Results: Watery stools, fever, weakness, and sunken eyes were the most common symptoms in patients (mean age, 10 months)