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Symptomatic and asymptomatic rotavirus infections in hospitalized children
Insights
This study found rotavirus in nearly half of children with diarrhea and over a third of controls. Asymptomatic rotavirus excretion significantly increased with age, a novel finding in pediatric populations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Rotavirus is a common cause of gastroenteritis in infants and children.
- Understanding rotavirus prevalence and asymptomatic shedding is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of rotavirus in a Dutch pediatric ward population.
- To examine the incidence of asymptomatic rotavirus excretion across different age groups.
Main Methods:
- Weekly stool sample analysis for rotavirus in 871 infants and children over one year.
- Routine bacteriology to identify other enteropathogens in children with diarrhea.
Main Results:
- Rotavirus was detected in 49.6% of children with diarrhea and 38.1% of controls.
- Asymptomatic rotavirus excretion rose from 14.5% in 0-6 month olds to 65.8% in children aged 6 years and over.
- Other enteropathogens identified included Salmonellae (20.9%), Campylobacter jejuni (3.9%), Yersinia enterocolitica (1.5%), Shigella sonnei (0.8%), and enteropathogenic E. coli (0.8%).
Conclusions:
- A high incidence of rotavirus was observed in both symptomatic and asymptomatic children.
- The significant increase in asymptomatic rotavirus excretion with age is a noteworthy finding.
- Further research is needed to explore factors influencing these observed prevalence rates.
Abstract:
During one year, 871 infants and children admitted to a Dutch paediatric ward were examined weekly for rotavirus. Rotavirus was detected in the stools of 64/129 (49.6%) children with diarrhoea and in 283/742 (38.1%) controls. The incidence of asymptomatic rotavirus excretors increased from 14.5% in infants 0 to 6 months of age to 65.8% in children of 6 years and over, a feature not yet reported. Possible explanations may be the methodology used, the age groups studied, the local hospital (and community) situation and the geographical location. Routine bacteriology revealed enteropathogens in 25.6% of the children with diarrhoea: Salmonellae in 20.9%, Campylobacter jejuni in 3.9%, Yersinia enterocolitica in 1.5%, Shigella sonnei in 0.8% and enteropathogenic E. coli in 0.8% of the patients.