[Rotavirus diarrhea in a population covered by private health insurance in Córdoba, Argentina].

BACKGROUND

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea worldwide, especially in children under 5 years of age.

OBJECTIVES

To study the incidence of rotavirus diarrhea in a population in Cordoba, Argentina. To determine signs and symptoms with potential predictive clinical diagnostic value and evaluate how rotavirus diarrhea affects length of hospital stay.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A case-control study was performed from April 1, 2002 to March 31, 2003.

RESULTS

Seventy-three patients were included. There were 33 rotavirus (1) cases and 40 rotavirus (-) controls. The mean age of the rotavirus (1) patients was 16.8 6 2.3 months. There were 14 (42.4 %; 95 % CI: 27.2-59.2) girls and 19 (57.6 %; 95 % CI: 40.8-72.8) boys. The seasonal peak of the disease was observed in the fall (30.3 %; 95 % CI: 17.4-47.3) and at the beginning of the austral winter (39.3 %; 95 % CI: 24.7-56.3). The signs and symptoms associated with the infection were vomiting (OR 8.40; 95 % CI: 2.39-31.33) and dehydration (OR 3.73; 95 % CI: 1.06-13.81). In the 33 rotavirus (1) patients, the mean length of hospital stay was 2.6 days.

CONCLUSIONS

One half of the hospitalized cases were produced by rotavirus. The seasonal peak was observed in autumn and winter (southern hemisphere). Rotavirus (1) patients more frequently presented severe vomiting and dehydration than rotavirus (-) patients, although length of hospital stay and diarrhea were longer in the control group.