Nontyphoidal Salmonella Gastroenteritis in a Tertiary Children’s Hospital in Southern China: Characteristics and Dietary Considerations

Table 1

Basic characteristics, clinical features, and laboratory tests and treatments in 142 infants and children with nontyphoidal Salmonella gastroenteritis.

Age
<12 months	74 (52.1%)
1–3 years	53 (37.3%)
≥3 years	15 (10.6%)
Sex, M/F	64.1%/35.9%
Disease duration at presentation
<2 weeks	100 (70.4%)
2–4 weeks	31 (21.8%)
≥4 weeks	11 (7.8%)
Prior illness
Respiratory infection	20 (14.1%)
Hand, foot, and mouth disease	6 (4.2%)
Symptoms
Diarrhea	142 (100%)
Mucus in stool	85 (59.9%)
Blood in stool	76 (53.5%)
Fever (T ≥ 38°C)	88 (62.0%)
Nausea and vomiting	26 (18.3%)
Bloating/distention	10 (7.0%)
Abdominal pain	10 (7.0%)
Irritability	5 (3.5%)
Laboratory studies
Leukocytosis (≥12 × 10^9/L)	60 (42.3%)
Thrombocytosis (≥300 × 10^9/L)	58 (40.8%)
Anemia (HB< 110 g/L)	52 (36.6%)
CRP (≥1 mg/L)	127 (89.4%)
Stool WBC ≥ (++)	89 (62.7%)
Stool RBC ≥ (++)	47 (33.1%)
Stool occult blood (+)	111 (78.2%
Stool culture: positive Salmonella	142 (100%)
Salmonella serotype
Typhimurium	117 (82.4%)
Enteritidis	12 (8.5%)
Saintpaul	6 (4.2%)
bovis morbificans	2 (1.4%)
Thompson	2 (1.4%)
Paratyphi B	2 (1.4%)
Paratyphi A	1 (0.7%)
Treatments
Antibiotics	130 (91.5%)
Oral antibiotics	26 (18.3%)
IV antibiotics	104 (73.2%)
Lactose-free formula/diet	41 (28.9%)
Hypoallergenic formula	9 (6.3%)
Clinical resolution after treatment
<2 weeks	129 (90.8%)
2–4 weeks	9 (6.3%)
>4 weeks	4 (2.8%)