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Assays for the Specific Growth Rate and Cell-binding Ability of Rotavirus
Published on: January 28, 2019
Complications in hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus: a retrospective analysis
Petra Kaiser1, Michael Borte, Klaus-Peter Zimmer
1Prof. Hess Kinderklinik, Klinikum Bremen-Mitte, St. Juergen-Strasse, 28205 Bremen, Germany.
Insights
Rotavirus (RV) infection in young children can cause severe acute gastroenteritis (AGE). This study found hypernatremia, a dangerous electrolyte imbalance, is a specific complication of RV-positive AGE.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a significant cause of hospitalization in infants and toddlers.
- Rotavirus (RV) is a primary pathogen responsible for AGE, particularly in young children.
- Specific complications and clinical courses of severe RV-positive (RV+) AGE, especially in chronically ill children, require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence and types of complications in children hospitalized with AGE.
- To compare complications between rotavirus-positive (RV+) and rotavirus-negative (RV-) cases.
- To identify specific clinical features associated with severe RV+ AGE.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of hospitalized children under 5 years old with AGE.
- Inclusion of data from six rotavirus seasons across three German pediatric hospitals.
- Comparison of complication incidence and clinical course between RV+ and RV- patients.
Main Results:
- Hypernatremia was significantly more frequent in RV+ AGE cases (P < 0.001).
- RV+ AGE was associated with severe disease, intensive care needs, and prolonged hospitalization.
- Metabolic disturbances, including hypoglycemia, were more common in RV+ AGE, while respiratory and neurological symptoms were more prevalent in RV- AGE.
Conclusions:
- Hypernatremia is identified as a specific complication of rotavirus-positive acute gastroenteritis.
- Rotavirus infection may be the underlying cause of 'infant toxicosis,' characterized by severe dehydration and clinical decline.
Unlabelled:
Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) caused by rotavirus (RV) is a common disease among infants and toddlers, often leading to hospitalization and, in resource-poor countries, to death. However, little is known on specific complications of severe RV-positive (RV+) AGE and on the clinical course in chronically ill children. This was a retrospective analysis of data for children <5 years of age hospitalized due to AGE during six rotavirus seasons in three large German pediatric hospitals. The primary study end point was the incidence and type of complications in RV+ versus RV-negative (RV-) cases. A total of 6,884 episodes of AGE in hospitalized children aged <5 years were included in this analysis. Of the 4,880 stools tested for RV, 2,118 (43.4%) were RV+. Hypernatremia was significantly more common in RV+ AGE (P < 0.001) and was associated with severe disease, need for intensive care treatment, and longer duration of hospitalization. Metabolic disorders, particularly hypoglycemia, were more common in RV+ AGE. In contrast, symptoms such as respiratory infections, neurological, and abdominal symptoms were more common in children with RV- AGE.
Conclusions:
Hypernatremia is a specific complication of RV+ AGE. RV would therefore appear to be the cause of infant toxicosis, the traditional descriptive term for severe dehydration and clinical deterioration following AGE.
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