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[Detection of group C rotavirus in the day care center]
Insights
Group C rotavirus caused acute gastroenteritis in four patients, primarily infants at a daycare center. Symptoms included vomiting and anorexia, often requiring outpatient fluid therapy.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
Context:
- Group C rotavirus (RVC) is a less common cause of gastroenteritis compared to Group A strains.
- Outbreaks in healthcare settings, particularly daycares, highlight the potential for nosocomial transmission.
- Understanding RVC epidemiology and clinical presentation is crucial for effective patient management.
Purpose:
- To report the detection and clinical characteristics of Group C rotavirus infection in a series of patients.
- To compare the clinical manifestations of Group C rotavirus gastroenteritis with those caused by Group A rotavirus.
- To analyze the molecular profile of the detected Group C rotavirus strains.
Summary:
- Four cases of acute gastroenteritis associated with Group C rotavirus were identified between February and April 1993.
- Three affected patients were infants attending the same hospital daycare center, suggesting potential transmission within the facility.
- Clinical symptoms included vomiting, anorexia, and difficulty with oral intake, necessitating outpatient fluid therapy. Symptoms lasted 1-2 days.
- Diarrhea and vomiting occurred with specific frequencies and durations. Notably, symptoms appeared less severe than those typically seen with Group A rotavirus infections.
- Electropherotyping revealed a consistent RNA pattern among the detected Group C rotavirus strains, distinct from previously isolated strains.
Impact:
- This study contributes to the understanding of Group C rotavirus epidemiology, particularly in pediatric populations and daycare settings.
- The findings emphasize the need for considering Group C rotavirus in the differential diagnosis of acute gastroenteritis, even when symptoms appear milder than Group A infections.
- Molecular characterization provides baseline data for future surveillance and identification of emerging Group C rotavirus strains.
Abstract:
Group C rotavirus was detected in stools of four patients from February to April, 1993. Of these patients, three were infants who were attendants of the day care center of the hospital. Although the route of viral infection has not been determined, the virus might have been spread within the center. Because the clinical symptoms of acute gastroenteritis caused by group C rotavirus were vomiting, serious anorexia and subsequent difficulty of oral intake of food, patients often required fluid administration therapy at the outpatient clinic. The symptoms continued 1 to 2 days. Diarrhea occurred 1.7 times daily for 1.2 days. Watery stool was found in 3 cases of patients, but no whitish stool was discovered. Vomiting developed 2.2 times daily for 1.2 days. These symptoms were less severe than those of gastroenteritis by group A rotaviral infection. The electrophoretic RNA pattern of group C rotavirus detected in the four cases were the same. However it was different from that of the virus strains previously isolated.