The significant decrease in main AGE-related health indicators in children <5years of age after the introduction of rotavirus vaccine provides evidence of a substantial public health impact of rotavirus vaccination in Bolivia, as a measure for protecting children against AGE.

Acute diarrhea diseases associated to Rotavirus In the period of 2001-2002, a total of 1163 fecal samples were collected from children less than five years of age with diarrhea, at the Hospital Albina Patiño and other health centers in Cochabamba city. Rotavirus infection general prevalence was 19% (220), distributed among hospitalized children 24% (77) and outpatients 17% (143). Rotavirus infections were observed along the whole study period, with highest prevalence in coldest months: April (24%), May (34%) and June (28%) and lowest frequencies (8-15%) in February, August, and September. Major rotavirus outbreak was significantly associated with the driest and colder season. The highest percentage of rotavirus infections (36,3%) was found among children between 7-12 months of age. Moderate dehydration, vomits and fever were the clinical symptoms more frequently associated with rotavirus acute gastroenteritis, being dehydration more common in hospitalized patients. The distribution of P and G genotypes analyzed by RT-PCR was: G1 (44%), G2 (6%), P[8] (24%) and P4 (15%). A co-infection P[8]P[6] was observed in 3 samples (4%). Genotype P[6] was found associated to outpatients. These findings, highlight that rotavirus is an important cause of acute gastroenteritis and that any of the currently available vaccines would potentially be protective against circulating strains found in the city of Cochabamba.

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