ETIOLOGY OF GASTROENTERITIS AMONG AMERICANS LIVING IN THE

diarrhea who were seen at an outpatient clinic at Clark Air Force Base Hospi-tal were Investigated to determine the etiology of their disease. En-terotoxlgenlc Escherichla coll were detected In 16 % (18/115), rotavlrus in 4% (4/111), saimoneilae In 3 % (3/115), shlgellae in 2 % (2/115) and Glardia lamblla In 2 % (3/152) of patients with diarrhea. Thus from only 27 % of the subjects studied were Identifiable potential pathogenic agents found. The Incidence of gas-troenteritis Increased in May and June with the Increase In rainfall; however, there was no increase In the proportion of diarrhea caused by any of these Identifiable enteric pathogens. Americans experienced a seasonal increase of diarrhea similar to that affecting the Philippine population In Manila. En-terotoxlgenlc E. coll was the most common Identifiable enteric pathogen among Americans with diarrhea at Clark Air Force Base In the Philippines during this study, though even in these cases, It may not have been the agent responsible for their Illness. diarrhea; enterotoxins; Escherichla coll; gastroenteritis; Intestinal disease