Diarrhea with blood occurred most frequently in children under 1 year of age. Fever occurred with similar frequency in all age groups. Upper respiratory tract infections were most common in the age group between 1- and 3-year-old. Atopic dermatitis was observed only in children younger than 1 year of age. In 68% of patients increased concentration of C-reactive protein was found.

In children over 1 year of age, statistically LY294002 mw significantly more frequently elevated values of the CRP were observed. Decreased hemoglobin values were found in 16 (22.5%) patients with Campylobacter infection. Anemia was observed significantly more often in children under 1 year of age. In all age groups elevated leukocytosis was observed, in total 22 examined (31%). No leukopenia was observed. Results of the laboratory tests are shown in Table III. In one third of children with Campylobacter infection due to a serious condition and high inflammatory markers in blood tests antibiotic therapy was used. Bacteria of the Campylobacter genus are widespread in the environment and in favorable conditions

for their development (in infants, young children and elderly people, with immunity disorders and taking proton pump inhibitors) may be a source of zoonotic disease – campylobacteriosis. In Poland, SCH772984 clinical trial since 2005 (the beginning of the record of abovementioned infections) systematic increase in reported cases of infection

with bacteria of Campylobacter genus has been observed. According to data of the Phospholipase D1 Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene in Warsaw, the incidence of Campylobacter infection increased from 270 of reported cases in 2008 to 375 in 2010 [6]. Summary of epidemiological data shows that for many years the largest incidence of campylobacteriosis, almost half of reported cases, occurs in Silesia and in 2009 and 2010 this number amounted 171 cases each year [7]. Our patients represented respectively 27 cases in 2009 and 30 in 2010. In total, in our study Campylobacter infection was diagnosed in 71 children among the 1343 hospitalizations due to diarrhea (5.28% of patients). Wardak observed slightly higher incidence than in our study – 12.4% (57 children/460 hospitalized) in the years 2003–2004 [8]. Increase in the number of cases of campylobacteriosis is also observed in other countries: in France, Austria, the incidence is 73.4/100, 000, and disease has been recognized as the most common disease associated with food [9] and [10]. British authors also observed significant increase in the incidence of campylobacteriosis from 33 000 cases in 1989 to 64.5 thousand cases in 2011 [11]. In the United States, campylobacteriosis is the second leading cause of bacterial diarrhea in children (after salmonellosis and enteropathogenic E. coli) [12] and [13].