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Rotavirus gastroenteritis in children: 5-year experience in a medical center
1Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, ROC.
Insights
Rotavirus infection, a common cause of childhood gastroenteritis, shows seasonal variations in Taipei. Rotavirus G1 and G2 strains caused clinically similar infections in children under two years old.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Virology
Background:
- Rotavirus is the primary cause of severe childhood gastroenteritis globally.
- Understanding rotavirus epidemiology and clinical presentation is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of rotavirus infections in children.
- To investigate the seasonal patterns and G serotype distribution of rotavirus in Taipei.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 429 pediatric rotavirus gastroenteritis cases.
- Data collected from National Taiwan University Hospital between January 1993 and December 1997.
- G serotyping performed on identified rotavirus strains.
Main Results:
- The median age of infected children was 13 months, with 76% under two years old.
- A seasonal peak was observed in late winter/early spring (1993-1996), shifting to late spring/summer in 1997.
- G1 and G2 serotypes were common, but clinical differences, including vomiting, dehydration, and seizures, were not statistically significant.
Conclusions:
- Rotavirus infection incidence exhibits significant seasonal variation in the Taipei area.
- Clinical manifestations of rotavirus gastroenteritis caused by G1 and G2 serotypes are largely indistinguishable.
- Further research is needed to understand evolving rotavirus seasonality and serotype prevalence.
Abstract:
Rotavirus infection is the leading cause of childhood gastroenteritis. We retrospectively reviewed cases of rotavirus gastroenteritis at National Taiwan University Hospital from January 1993 to December 1997. During the study period there were 429 patients with rotavirus infection with ages ranging from 1 day to 16 years with a median of 13 months. The male-to-female ratio was 1.2:1. Infection occurred before the age of 2 years old in 76% of patients. The seasonal peak occurred in the late winter and early spring during 1993 to 1996, but the case number increased in late spring and summer in 1997. The G serotype of the rotavirus was identified in 302 patients (70%). Vomiting and dehydration developed more frequently following infection with G1 rotaviruses, while an increased frequency of seizures was noted following G2 infection; the differences were not statistically significant. One patient had two episodes of infection; the first one was caused by G1 rotavirus, and the strain causing the second infection could not be typed. In conclusion, the results suggest that there is a strong seasonal variation in the incidence and characteristics of rotavirus infection in Taipei area. The infections caused by G1 and G2 rotaviruses were clinically indistinguishable.