Role of rotaviruses in children with acute diarrhea in Tehran, Iran.

BACKGROUND

Rotavirus illness is associated with significant cause of morbidity and is a common cause of hospitalization worldwide.

OBJECTIVE

This study was performed to assess the role of rotaviruses in children presenting with acute diarrhea in two main Children's Medical Centers and one general hospital in Tehran.

STUDY DESIGN

Stool specimens from 704 children less than 5 years of age suffering from diarrhea were tested for the presence of rotaviruses by a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme immunoassay. A total of 176 fecal specimens collected from healthy children in similar age group were studied as controls.

RESULTS

Rotavirus antigen was detected in 15.3% of patients. Infants between 6 and 12 months of age were most frequently affected. Rotavirus infection was significantly less frequent in breast-fed than among bottle-fed babies. Watery diarrhea was present in 68.5% of children. Detection rate was highest in the spring and lowest in summer. Rotavirus can be regarded as a major etiologic agent of acute diarrhea in infants and children up to 5-years-old in Iran, immunization at birth may protect the children before their first symptomatic infection.