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The burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis in children presenting to a paediatric hospital

E Inglis1, A Kesson, A T Newall

  • 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Epidemiology and Infection
|November 22, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Rotavirus gastroenteritis heavily impacts infants under two, with most infections acquired in the community. High rates of intravenous fluid and antibiotic use indicate severe pediatric cases, informing Australia's rotavirus vaccination program assessment.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Public health surveillance
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe gastroenteritis in young children globally.
  • Understanding the burden and management of rotavirus infection is crucial for public health interventions.
  • Australia introduced a rotavirus vaccination program, necessitating data on disease epidemiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the burden, management, and outcomes of rotavirus infection in children under five years old.
  • To analyze rotavirus cases presenting to a tertiary pediatric hospital in Sydney.
  • To provide data for assessing the impact of the rotavirus vaccination program.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of laboratory-confirmed rotavirus cases in children under five.
  • Data collection included patient demographics, mode of acquisition, and treatment received.
  • Analysis of hospital admission length and nosocomial infection rates.

Main Results:

  • Eighty cases of rotavirus gastroenteritis were identified in 2004.
  • Infants under 24 months accounted for 75% of cases, with a male predominance.
  • High rates of intravenous fluid (46%) and antibiotic (28%) use were observed, alongside a low nosocomial infection rate (3/10,000 admissions).

Conclusions:

  • Rotavirus infection poses a significant burden on young children requiring hospitalization.
  • The high rates of medical interventions suggest disease severity in this cohort.
  • Findings are vital for evaluating the effectiveness of the Australian rotavirus vaccination program.

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