Frequency of Rotavirus in Children with Acute Gastroenteritis

It is important to follow up the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of the viral especially rotavirus gastroenteritis to develop strategies for prevention and treatment. Therefore we investigated the rotavirus gastroenteritis in acute diarrhea patinets in our clinic. Stool samples of 263 patients admitted to outpatient clinic or emergency room of COMU Faculty of Medicine Hospital with the symptom of acute diarrhea were screened retrospectively from medical records. Stool samples had been studied with the monoclonal antibody based chromatographic immunoassay (Rota-Adeno Virus Combo Test Device, Ecotest, China). 263 medical records were screened. Rotavirus antigen was positive in 62 cases (23.6%). It was 34.5% in children under 2 years. Rota positivity according to the seasons was as follows: 27.8% in spring, 14.6% in summer, 26.3% in autumn and 21.4% in winter. As a result, acute diarrhea case management should be done for age and seasonal distribution. In these cases unnecessary antibiotic usage should be avoided by rapid diagnostic test when required.