Molecular Epidemiology and Clinical Risk Factors of Rotavirus Diarrhea: Single Center 5-Year Experience

Abstract

Objective: Acute gastroenteritis due to the rotavirus is one of the common causes of morbidity and mortality in children under five years of age. The objective of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data of rotavirus diarrhea in hospitalized children under five years of age. Methods: All children between one month and 60 months old ages who were hospitalized in Health Sciences University Behçet Uz Child Disease and Pediatric Surgery Training and Research Hospital during September 2013 to August 2017 and diagnosed as acute gastroenteritis with rotavirus antigen test positive in feces were included in the current study. Data of the patients were collected retrospectively from medical records. Results: A total of 100 patients were evaluated.The median age of the patients was 13 months (IQR 5-45 months) and 54 patients were male and 46 were female.The highest hospitalization rate was in December, followed by November, and in October. The most common type of G9P (8) serotype was detected in rotavirus serotype analysis by PCR. Breastfeeding infants had milder clinic findings in comparison to the older ones. It was found that clinical findings were milder and Vesicari score was lower in infants who had breast milk. Vesikari score was found to be high in children with severe clinical findings. Conclusion: Rotavirus infection is important for all ages.In case of fever, increased numbers of vomiting and diarrhea, and higher Vesikari system scores may be associated with the severe clinical forms. Determination of rotavirus serotypes and clinical monitoring of genotypic changes are required.