Paediatric MCQS Answer 24

The Correct Answer is E


Rotavirus is the most common agent responsible for infantile diarrhea throughout the world. In tropical climates, rotavirus is the etiologic agent in 15-50% of cases of acute diarrhea in children, and in temperate climates it accounts for 35-60% of cases. Parvo-like viruses have caused major community outbreaks of acute diarrhea. Cytomegalovirus has been shown to infect the colon on occasion. Bacterial pathogens account for 10-15% of cases of acute childhood diarrhea; the most commonly identified bacterial pathogens in North American children are Campylobacter jejuni and various strains of Salmonella and Shigella species. Some strains of Escherichia coli are pathogenic, causing sporadic cases of acute enteritis, epidemic diarrhea, and traveler’s diarrhea.


Ref: McMillan JA, DeAngelis CD, Feigin RD, et al (eds): Oski's Pediatrics: Principles and Practice, ed 3. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 1999, p 1148. 2) Behrman RE, Kliegman RM, Jenson HB (eds): Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, ed 16. WB Saunders Co, 2000, pp 765-766.

Category: Pediatrics MCQs