ETIOLOGICAL OPTIMIZATION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES WITH HEMOCOLITIC SYNDROME

Abstract

Infectious diseases characterized by hemorrhagic colitis (hemocolitic syndrome) – that is, acute diarrheal illnesses with blood in the stool – remain a significant public health concern worldwide. Diarrheal diseases are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, especially among young children in low-resource settings, accounting for roughly half a million childhood deaths annually[1]. A substantial fraction of severe diarrheal episodes involve dysentery (bloody diarrhea), which tends to cause more severe illness and complications than non-bloody diarrheas. Globally, shigellosis (infection by Shigella species) is the single most important cause of acute bloody diarrhea, with an estimated 164–188 million cases and up to ~1 million deaths each year[3]. Other pathogens such as Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC, e.g. E. coli O157:H7) also contribute to the burden of hemorrhagic colitis – STEC infections cause large outbreaks of bloody diarrhea and can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening complication, in approximately 5–10% of cases[8]. In addition, invasive intestinal parasites like Entamoeba histolytica are responsible for tens of millions of dysentery cases and around 100,000 deaths per year, primarily in developing regions[2]. The global impact of these infections is therefore enormous, affecting all age groups and geographic areas to varying degrees.