[Comparison of clinical features of rotavirus infection with rotavirus antigen titers in feces obtained during the acute phase].

When fecal specimens obtained from infants with acute gastroenteritis during the acute phase between January 1986 and March 1987 were examined by enzyme immunoassay (EIA), 72 cases were found to have the rotavirus antigen. Such 3 clinical signs as diarrhea (D), fever (F) and vomiting (V) were all observed in 38 cases. These cases showing DFV syndrome demonstrated the highest geometric mean titer of rotavirus antigen among the rotavirus antigen-positive cases. Geometric mean titers (GMTs) were calculated to be as high as more than 10(3.1) in 26 of the 38 DFV cases (68%) and in 11 of 34 cases with DV, DF, FV or D syndromes (32%), showing a significant difference between the 2 groups (p less than 0.005). GTMs were slightly higher in cases having fever of 38 degrees C or more, than in those having fever of less than 38 degrees C.