Childhood diarrhoeal diseases in developing countries
Harriet U. Ugboko,
Obinna C. Nwinyi,
Solomon U. Oranusi,
John O. Oyewale
Affiliations
Harriet U. Ugboko
Corresponding author.; Microbiology Research Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, Covenant University, Canaanland, KM 10, Idiroko Road, P.M.B, 1023, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
Obinna C. Nwinyi
Microbiology Research Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, Covenant University, Canaanland, KM 10, Idiroko Road, P.M.B, 1023, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
Solomon U. Oranusi
Microbiology Research Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, Covenant University, Canaanland, KM 10, Idiroko Road, P.M.B, 1023, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
John O. Oyewale
Microbiology Research Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, Covenant University, Canaanland, KM 10, Idiroko Road, P.M.B, 1023, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
Diarrhoeal diseases collectively constitute a serious public health challenge globally, especially as the leading cause of death in children (after respiratory diseases). Childhood diarrhoea affecting children under the age of five accounts for approximately 63% of the global burden. Accurate and timely detection of the aetiology of these diseases is very crucial; but conventional methods, apart from being laborious and time-consuming, often fail to identify difficult-to-culture pathogens. The aetiological agent of an average of up to 40% of cases of diarrhoea cannot be identified. This review gives an overview of the recent trends in the epidemiology and treatment of diarrhoea and aims at highlighting the potentials of metagenomics technique as a diagnostic method for enteric infections.
