Clinical Observations on“Pseudocholera infantum”

Abstract

From late autum to early winter many infants of the weaning period are affected by an intestinal hazard, which is characterized with vomiting and watery, acholic stools. To date this disease, designated“Pseudocholera infantum”by Ito (1901), has been studied by many authors, especially from the etiologic respect. This paper covers the clinical studies of 33 cases observed in our clinic during three months from October to Descember in 1955.
These cases were limitted in 7-15 months old and there was no marked sex difference in the number of incidence. In two apartment houses and one locality the epidemic outbreak was observed. No new finding was obtained in addition to the so far reported clinical symptoms. In our cases the initial symptoms were diarrhea (21 cases), vomiting (5 cases), and fever (3 cases). Clinical diagnosis was made on characteristic white stools, the frequency of which was generally limited 4-6 times daily in many cases. The stools showed low pH value 5.6-6.9, averaging 6.0. Catarrhal symptoms of the upper respiratory tract were also obserued in a high percentage (78%) and a half of the cases had fever. The blood picture showed no significant change, but an increase in“Virocyte”(5% on an average). Prognosis was always favorable and all patients recovered within 7 days.
In bacteriological studies of stools pathogenetic B. coli were found in cases (O₅₅, O₂₆, O₁₂₆).
Clinically this disease is assumd infectious, probably viral.