Rotavirus - A Retrospective Study of Incidence at the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM)

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Pediatrics
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Diarrhea and acute gastroenteritis are common childhood illnesses.
• Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe gastroenteritis in infants and young children globally.
• Understanding local rotavirus epidemiology is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the incidence and characteristics of rotavirus infections.
• To identify the primary age groups affected by rotavirus.
• To determine the etiological role of rotavirus in pediatric gastroenteritis at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of hospital data from 1991-2000.
• Stool samples from children with diarrhea/gastroenteritis were tested for rotavirus antigen using the Latex Slide Agglutination Test.
• Microbiological examination of stool samples for parasites and bacteria was conducted.

Main Results:

• A total of 1097 stool samples were analyzed, with 207 (18.8%) testing positive for rotavirus.
• The highest prevalence was observed in infants and children aged 6 months to 2 years.
• Rotavirus cases peaked in 2000 (34.1%) and were lowest in 1999 (6.6%). No concurrent parasitic or bacterial enteropathogens were identified in rotavirus-positive samples.

Conclusions:

• Rotavirus is a significant etiological agent of diarrhea and acute gastroenteritis in young children admitted to HUSM.
• The findings highlight the continued importance of rotavirus surveillance and potential prevention strategies.
• Absence of other enteropathogens in rotavirus-positive cases suggests rotavirus as the primary cause of illness.