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Rotavirus and other enteropathogens in childhood acute diarrhoea: a study of two centres in Malaysia

Way S Lee1, Ganeswrie Rajasekaran, Susan Pee

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, University of Malaya Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. leews@ummc.edu.my

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|August 24, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Rotavirus was the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in Malaysian children requiring hospitalisation. The study observed a peak age for rotavirus hospitalisation between 12 to 35 months, potentially influenced by an early 2002 outbreak.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a significant cause of childhood hospitalisation globally.
  • Rotavirus is a leading viral pathogen responsible for severe AGE in infants and young children.
  • Understanding rotavirus epidemiology is crucial for developing effective prevention and control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of rotavirus as a cause of AGE in hospitalised children in Malaysia.
  • To identify the peak age groups affected by rotavirus gastroenteritis and assess potential contributing factors like outbreaks.

Main Methods:

  • A 12-month prospective study was conducted in two urban Malaysian hospitals.
  • Stool samples were collected and analysed from children under 14 years hospitalised with AGE.
  • Data on patient demographics and rotavirus detection were recorded.

Main Results:

  • Rotavirus was the most frequent aetiological agent identified in hospitalised AGE cases (average 32%).
  • Peak hospital admissions for rotavirus occurred in children aged 12-35 months.
  • An outbreak from January to March 2002 correlated with increased rotavirus gastroenteritis admissions.

Conclusions:

  • Rotavirus is a primary cause of AGE hospitalisation in Malaysian children, with a notable proportion of older children affected.
  • The observed peak age group (12-35 months) may have been influenced by a community outbreak, potentially leading to re-infection in older children.
Abstract

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