Outbreak of Salmonellosis Misdiagnosed with Amebiasis in Gumi City and Chilgok County, Korea.
- Author:
Hyun Sul LIM
1
;
Geun Ryang BAE
;
Tai Soon YONG
Author Information
1. Department of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Korea. wisewine@dongguk.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Outbreaks;
Salmonella Infections;
Salmonella Typhimurium;
Amebiasis
- MeSH:
Abdominal Pain;
Academies and Institutes;
Amebiasis*;
Child;
Diagnosis;
Diarrhea;
Disease Outbreaks;
Dysentery, Amebic;
Fever;
Gyeongsangbuk-do*;
Headache;
Humans;
Korea*;
Lunch;
Microbial Sensitivity Tests;
Public Health;
Salmonella Infections*;
Salmonella typhimurium;
Vomiting;
Surveys and Questionnaires
- From:Korean Journal of Epidemiology
2002;24(1):54-62
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSES: In May 29, 1999, the health department in Gumi city received a report from a local pediatrician that three children who attended a kindergarten were diagnosed with amebic dysentery. By May 31, fifteen more children from the same kindergarten were diagnosed with amebic dysentery. We conducted an investigation in order to verify the diagnosis, and to implement appropriate control measures. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire survey on 264 children in 3 kindergarten in Gumi city. Furthermore, 726 children in 4 kindergarten and 13 academies in Chilgok county whose lunch is supplied by the same unlicensed catering company were monitored for diarrheal symptoms. RESULTS: Of 264 children in Gumi city, 74 children fitted the case definition (attack rate, 28%). Of 726 children in Chilgok county, 50 children were reported to have diarrheal symptoms. The clinical picture was dominated by the following symptoms; abdominal pain (85.1%), fever (83.8%), headache (50.0%), chilling (45.9%), vomiting (28.4%). The median duration of diarrhea was 2 days, and the median frequency of diarrhea was 3 times/day. Salmonella Typhimurium of the same antibiogram pattern were isolated from fifteen cases. However, no evidence of amebiasis was found from laboratory results or epidemiologic pattern. CONCLUSIONS : This epidemic was caused by Salmonella Typhimurium, which were present in lunch supplied by the unlicensed catering company. Improvement of the diagnostic ability in local health centers as well as public health centers and reinforcement of strict protocols regarding appropriate management of catering services should be emphasized
