Acute gastroenteritis due to norovirus in patients with hospital care: a cross-sectional study

Because of the availability of molecular techniques in clinical care, acute gastroenteritis (AGE) due to norovirus has returned to importance as a causative agent of hospitalization. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features and evolution of patients less than 16 years hospitalized for AGE associated with norovirus.

Retrospective study. Clinical information of the patients attended from November 1, 2016 to February 28, 2018 by AGE with detection of norovirus (genotype I and II) in faeces by means of polymerase chain reaction with reverse transcriptase was collected.

We studied 103 patients; 96 (93.2%; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 86.6-96.7%) with genotype II detection and seven (6.8%; 95% CI: 5.3-8.7%) genotype I; 76 (73.8%) ≤5 years. 48.5% attended during the winter. The evolution was to self-limitation in less than 7 days in all with hydro electrolytic management. There were no differences in the severity and symptoms according to the viral group; in both cases the vomiting predominated (82%). Only one patient had intestinal perforation due to co-infection with Shigella sp.; three patients (3.1%) manifested seizures (two febrile and one epileptic convulsions).

Despite causing a meritorious disease of hospitalization, GEA by norovirus has a favorable prognosis with rapid self-limitation. Its timely detection by rapid tests in feces could avoid the unjustified prescription of antibiotics.