[Burden of acute rotavirus gastroenteritis (RV-AGE) in Germany: a comparison of federal statistics and...

Worldwide, rotavirus (RV) is the main cause for morbidity and mortality due to acute gastroenteritis (AGE) among infants and toddlers. In Germany, where RV-AGE is notifiable, rotavirus is the most common pathogen of AGE in young children. Since 2006, two rotavirus vaccines for use in infants are available. The objective of this study is to estimate the burden of RV-AGE among young children in Germany on the basis of federal statistics as well as data from epidemio-logical studies. Between 2001 and 2004, 36,281 (or 37,932) RV infections among children below 4 (or 5 years) of age have been notified per year which results in an incidence of 1.2%/1%. Epidemiological studies yield an estimate of 117,985 cases of RV-AGE among children below 4 years of age (incidence: 4%). The hospital statistic shows 12,716 RV-AGE cases per year in children below the age of 5 years between 2001 and 2004. Those cases account for 22% of all AGE cases. However, the causative organism is not stated in more than 75% of cases. In epidemiological studies, an average of 53% of the hospitalised cases of AGEs has been attributed to RV. Based on these data, 30,500 hospitalized RV-AGE cases can be expected per year among children up to 5 years. The mortality statistics show less than one death due to RV among young children per year. Based on federal statistics as well as epidemiological studies, the burden of RV-AGE can only be estimated approximately. While federal statistics underestimate the burden of RV-AGE, the burden documented in epidemiological studies in young children is high in Germany. These findings support the recommendation of the Deutsche Akademie für Kinderheilkunde und Jugendmedizin (DAKJ) for a general vaccination of against RV in Germany.