An outbreak of rotavirus infections in newborns--new aspects?

In the context of a prospective study for detection of rotavirus infections, an outbreak in neonates was observed in April 1986 at the Schweizerische Pflegerinnenschule in Zurich. Altogether, 103 neonates were investigated by means of genome gel electrophoresis for rotaviruses (HRV, human rotavirus) in the feces in the course of April 1986. Of these 103 neonates, 51 (49%) were HRV-positive and 52 (51%) were HRV-negative. Of the 51 HRV-positive neonates, 42 (82%) showed clinical symptoms, especially a typically altered pathological quality of the feces and an increased frequency of fecal passage. Vomiting and fever were observed less frequently. The pathological quality of the feces proved to be significantly correlated with the infection of rotaviruses in the neonate at risk. Besides this, reduced feeding behavior, circulatory signs and in one neonate a convulsive state of unclear etiology were also observed. This has only been rarely described up to now in rotavirus infections in neonates. This study confirms that rotavirus may cause frequently slight symptoms in neonates, but sometimes also symptoms of a clinically significant extent.