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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
Assays for the Specific Growth Rate and Cell-binding Ability of Rotavirus
Published on: January 28, 2019
[Hospitalisation associated with Rotavirus gastroenteritis in Italy, 2001-2003, evaluated by means of ICD9-CM
Alessia Marocco1, Baroukh Assael, Giovanni Gabutti
1GlaxoSmithKline S.p.A., Verona.
Insights
Rotavirus (RV) gastroenteritis is a leading cause of childhood hospitalizations for diarrhea. This study highlights the significant burden of RV infections in young children and suggests a need for improved diagnostic coding and vaccination strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Rotaviruses (RV) are the primary cause of acute gastroenteritis in young children globally.
- RV infections account for a substantial percentage of childhood hospitalizations due to diarrhea.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the epidemiology of rotavirus gastroenteritis in children in Italy.
- To assess the burden of RV infections using national hospital discharge data.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the Italian national hospital discharge database for the years 2001-2003.
- Inclusion of children in their first four years of life.
Main Results:
- Rotavirus enteritis represented 84% of viral enteritis hospitalizations in children under four.
- RV was identified in 17% of all intestinal infectious diseases in this age group, though likely underestimated.
- A significant portion (54%) of gastroenteritis cases in the database were undefined.
Conclusions:
- Rotavirus plays a significant role in severe pediatric gastrointestinal infections in Italy.
- Underestimation of RV cases is likely due to coding limitations and undefined diagnoses.
- Effective immunization strategies could significantly reduce the incidence and costs associated with rotavirus disease.
Abstract:
Rotaviruses (RV) are the most common etiological agents in acute gastroenteritis (GE) in children in the first years of life. Data from the national scientific literature show that RV is responsible of 26% of all cases of hospitalisation for diarrea in children, resulting the most frequently identified agent. The Italian database of hospital discharge, freely available from the web site of the national Ministry of Health, was searched to investigate the epidemiology of RV gastroenteritis. The mean number of hospitalisation for RV enteritis in children in the first 4 years of live was 4.758 in the years 2001, 2002 and 2003, representing 84% of viral enteritis. RV was identified as agent in 17% of all intestinal infectious diseases in this age group. This percentage shows the important role of RV in severe gastrointestinal infections; it is however much lower than the value expected from specifically performed surveys. This underestimation may be attributed to the high number of undefined gastroenteritis found in the database (54%), to the scarce sensitivity of the hospital discharge code, and to the fact that the analysis was performed using only the principal diagnosis. A specific immunisation strategy, safe, effective, cost-effective and easy to perform, could have a great impact on the incidence of the disease and on the associated costs.
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