All issues > Volume 16(1); 1973

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1973;16(1):12-20. Published online January 31, 1973.

Clinical Studies of 80 Cases of Amebic Dysentery in Children

Young Chirl Moon¹, Hyo Hee Lim¹, Shin Ho Park¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Seoul Adventist Hospital Seoul, Korea

Abstract

From July 1970 to December 1971, 80 children with amebic dysentery at Seoul Adventist Hospital, which is situated on the near outskirts of Seoul city, were observed. The results were as follow: 1) Concerning the seasonal difference, the highest incidence was found in June, July, August and September. The incidence was highest in the summer when many foods come out. 2)Intermediary foods which were tainted from the rural district in the summer, were tomatoe, water-melon, melon and strawberry, etc. Some patients had an attack of a disease after eating bread or icecream. 3)Almost all patients had an initial complaint of diarrhea. Fever (73.8%), over moderate dehydration (41.3%), vomiting (41.3%), generalized convulsion (13.8%) and loss of consciousness (6. 3%) were observed in the above order among the infants and young children. 4) Cure rate was 92.5% and almost acute amebic dysenteric patients were healed completely in 10 days under routine treatment with terramycin and camoform. (93. 2%). 5) With this prevalence of amebic dysentery on the outskirts of large cyty, we understand that the infection rates may exceed 50 per cent in densely populated unsanitary areas where there is poor personal hygiene. Poor sanitation and poor personal hygiene seem to be more important factors than climate and low income.

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