The large contribution of diarrhoea to morbidity and mortality rates in Papua New Guinea (PNG) warrants a significant response to diagnosing aetiology, determining appropriate management and reducing risk factors that facilitate transmission of enteric pathogens. We conducted a review of literature to assess the extent of research published on the aetiology of diarrhoea in PNG between 1995 and 2012. Of 54 peer-reviewed articles that were selected for review, 25 pertained to aetiology. While the majority of articles described typhoid fever and non-typhoid salmonellosis, shigellosis, rotavirus, pigbel and cholera were also represented in the literature reviewed.
Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Diarrhea/epidemiology/*microbiology ; Humans ; Papua New Guinea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors

We evaluated the IP-Triple I immunochromatographic rapid test for the detection of rotavirus, norovirus and adenovirus using stool samples from children with diarrhoea. The detection of norovirus and adenovirus was poor compared to polymerase chain reaction assays. However, high sensitivity (92%) and specificity (99%) were obtained for the detection of rotavirus.
Adenoviridae/*isolation & purification ; *Child, Hospitalized ; Child, Preschool ; Diarrhea/*virology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Feces/virology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunochromatography/*methods ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Norovirus/*isolation & purification ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rotavirus/*isolation & purification ; Sensitivity and Specificity