Scientific Seminar at the College of Medicine, University of Babylon on Bacterial and Viral Causes of Diarrhea
Under the patronage of Professor Dr. Ameen Ajeel Al-Yasiri, President of the University of Babylon, and under the supervision of Professor Dr. Muhannad Abbas Al-Shallah, Dean of the College of Medicine, and as part of the college’s continuing education activities and sustainable development goals, the Department of Microbiology organized an awareness seminar entitled:
“Bacterial and Viral Causes of Diarrhea.”
The seminar was attended by the Head of the Department, Professor Dr. Jawad Kazem Turad, along with several faculty members and administrative staff.
The seminar featured a lecture by Professor Dr. Zaitoon Abdul-Ridha Al-Khafaji, who explained that viral gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. While most individuals recover without complications, dehydration remains a major concern.
She clarified that several different viruses can cause viral gastroenteritis, which is highly contagious and very common. It causes millions of diarrhea cases annually, and anyone can be affected. Viruses are believed to be responsible for up to three-quarters of all infectious diarrhea cases.
She added that viral gastroenteritis is the second most common viral illness after upper respiratory tract infections. In developing countries, viral gastroenteritis is a major cause of death among malnourished children. More specifically, rotavirus alone causes more than 125 million diarrhea cases annually in infants and children worldwide. In the United States, rotavirus-related child deaths range between 20 and 40 per year, compared to 600,000 deaths globally.
Another lecture was presented by Lecturer Enas Ahmed Saeed, who provided a brief definition of the condition known as “diarrhea”, explaining the origin of the term and its dangers across all age groups, especially in children under two years of age due to rapid fluid loss and the resulting tissue dehydration.
She reviewed the various types of bacteria responsible for diarrhea, including enteric bacteria, Gram-negative bacilli, and Gram-positive bacilli. She also discussed different types of diarrhea, such as watery diarrhea, depending on the bacterial species involved and their virulence factors, including toxin production and invasive capabilities that may lead to bloody diarrhea by damaging the intestinal or colonic mucosa.
The lecture also addressed the seriousness of diarrhea and the need for urgent rehydration therapy to prevent tissue dehydration, followed by appropriate medical treatment. She concluded by stressing the importance of public education and hygiene, emphasizing personal hygiene, safe food practices, and the cleanliness of the surrounding environment to prevent gastrointestinal infections.