Researchers identify possible treatments for deadly diseases affecting children

Researchers have identified four pathogens that are responsible for the vast majority of diarrheal illnesses – leading the way for potential new treatments.

Scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) outlined the impact and challenges of diarrheal diseases, identified the key pathogens responsible and discussed the interventions to prevent and treat this serious issue.

The research was conducted in areas where there is a high burden of diarrheal illness. This included The Gambia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.

These pathogens — rotavirus, Cryptosporidium, Shigellaand enterotoxigenic Esherichia coli (ETEC) — are responsible for most diarrheal illnesses, according to Dr Kotloff, drawing from research conducted under the Global Enteric Multi-center Study (GEMS, the largest study of childhood diarrheal diseases conducted in a developing country setting. 

During the first year of a child’s life, researchers found that rotavirus was the leading pathogen among the top four identified every research site. Among infants, rotavirus incidence was more than two times higher than any other pathogen.

At present, there are rotavirus vaccines available internationally that are derived from live, but mild, strains, and World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that the rotavirus vaccine for infants be included in all national immunisation programs, particularly in countries where diarrheal deaths account for more than 10 percent of mortality among children under five.

Research shows some vaccines have not been as effective in the world’s poorest countries. To better understand this, investigators at UM SOM’s CVD are studying the impact of vaccine introduction on the cause and incidence and cause of diarrhoea in sub-Saharan Africa. Dr Kotloff and her team are studying the effectiveness and safety of a new enhanced thermostable formulation of a rotavirus vaccine called RotaTeqTM in Mali, which is intended to be more resistant to temperature fluctuations.

To better understand this, investigators at UM SOM’s CVD are studying the impact of vaccine introduction on the cause and incidence and cause of diarrhoea in sub-Saharan Africa. Dr Kotloff and her team are studying the effectiveness and safety of a new enhanced thermostable formulation of a rotavirus vaccine called RotaTeqTM in Mali, which is intended to be more resistant to temperature fluctuations.

A diarrheal illness typically lasts several days and can leave the body dehydrated, without the water and salts necessary for survival. Extreme cases can lead to shock and death within hours. Infection from bacterial diarrheal episodes caused by pathogens such as Shigella can cause extensive damage

Extreme cases can lead to shock and death within hours. Infection from bacterial diarrheal episodes caused by pathogens such as Shigella can cause extensive damage to the intestine as a result of intense inflammation and cell death. Importantly, Dr Kotloff noted that in addition to high rates of mortality among young children suffering from diarrheal diseases, a single episode of moderate-to-severe diarrhoea can produce lasting serious health conditions, such as impaired growth and cognitive development:

The GEMS study showed that children who had a serious diarrheal disease episode were 8.5 times more likely to die in the two months after their illness than children in their neighbourhood who were the same age but did not have an episode. This highlights the importance of preventing these episodes from occurring in the first place, and paying close attention to those who do have an episode,” said Dr Kotloff.