Acute diarrhoea and rotavirus infections in young children in Kuwait.

The role of rotavirus infections in acute diarrhoea in young children was studied over a period of one year. Rotavirus was detected by electron microscopy and enzyme immunoassay methods in 40.2% of faecal specimens from 343 children with acute diarrhoea and in 4.7% of 86 controls. The infections were most common in children aged 2-12 months (42.3%). Twelve per cent of the rotavirus infected children were also infected with bacterial enteropathogens (Salmonellae, Shigellae and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli). The incidence of rotavirus infections was not related to sex, socio-economic or nutritional status of children. Rotavirus-associated diarrhoea differed in several clinical parameters from bacterial associated and nonspecific diarrhoea. Rotavirus was detected throughout the year but was most frequent during months with little rainfall and low humidity (March-May). Our results suggest that in Kuwait, rotavirus infection is a major cause of childhood diarrhoea.