[Acute gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus (author's transl)].

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Virology
• Microbiology

Context:

• Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a common childhood illness.
• Viral infections are a leading cause of AGE in children.
• Accurate and timely diagnosis of viral AGE is crucial for effective management.

Purpose:

• To investigate the prevalence of viral pathogens in hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis.
• To evaluate the diagnostic reliability of electron microscopy (E/M) for rotavirus-induced AGE.
• To compare clinical and analytical findings between viral and non-viral AGE cases.

Summary:

• A prospective study included 87 children hospitalized for AGE and 32 controls, aged 24 days to 3 years.
• Stool samples were analyzed using electron microscopy (E/M).
• Viruses were detected in 63% of AGE cases, with rotavirus being the most prevalent (45.9%).
• No significant clinical or analytical differences were observed between viral and non-viral AGE groups.
• E/M demonstrated high reliability for diagnosing rotavirus-induced AGE, correlating well with clinical data, seroconversion, and duodenal virus detection.

Impact:

• Highlights the significant role of rotavirus in pediatric AGE.
• Establishes electron microscopy as a reliable diagnostic tool for rotavirus-induced AGE.
• Provides insights into the clinical presentation of viral vs. non-viral AGE.
• Informs clinical practice regarding the diagnosis and management of acute gastroenteritis in children.