Khan et al evaluated pediatric patients with Shigellosis. They identified risk factors for mortality. The authors are from the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research in Bangladesh, Tufts University and Mpilonhie in South Africa.
Patient selection: pediatric patient with shigellosis (region endemic for all 4 species of Shigella)
Outcome: death (mortality rate 10% in almost 800 children in Dhaka)
Major risk factors for mortality:
(1) unconsciousness (odds ratio 45.4)
(2) convulsion (odds ratio 14.6)
Additional risk factors:
(1) hyponatremia with serum sodium concentration < 126 mmol/L (odds ratio 3.8)
(2) malnutrition (based on low weight-for-age)
(3) low number of stools before admission (nondiarrheal)
(4) younger age (less than 1 year, 1 to 5 years, 6 to 14 years)
No patient >= 15 years of age died.
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