Acute bloody diarrhea in children below five years of age in Babylon Province, Iraq

Objectives: The aim of study is to find the causes, how optimal diagnosis and what is the most causative agents of bloody diarrhea in infants and children. Methods: One hundred children with bloody diarrhea (three or more loose bowel motion / day with visible blood in stool) from total 1660 of gastroenteritis where studied in Babylon hospital for maternity and children in Hilla from (1st of March to 31 August 2012), all of them were less than five years of age. Those with surgical condition excluded from the study. Results: Higher percentage with E. histolytica 50 (50%).Their stool culture was showed growth of normal flora. Second microorganism was E. Coli 20 (20%), Third microorganism was Shigella 7 (7%). There is no relationship between types of microorganisms in bloody diarrhea and different age group. More than 50% of the patients with bloody diarrhea was found in those who were below 2 years. There is no significant difference between type of microorganisms and gender of the patient’s. There is significant difference between total number of cases and gender of the patient’s. Male more affected 56 (56%) than female 44 (44%). There is a significant difference between total number of patients and residence of patients. Patient come from rural area were more 60 (60%) than those from urban area 40 (40%). Conclusion: Entamoeba Histolytica one of the most frequent offending pathogen in-patient with bloody diarrhea in our society. Children below 2 years are the main affected group and male sex affected more than female.