Background:Viral acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a major cause of morbidity in childhood and leads to hospitalization in developed countries, such as Iran.Objectives:The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and viral types (rotavirus, adenovirus, human parechoviruses-1, and human bocavirus) of acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis in hospitalized children.Patients and Materials:This was a across-sectional prospective study performed at the Pediatric Department of Rasoul Hospital, Tehran, Iran (2009-2011) on 80 hospitalized children with viral AGE. All Stool samples were collected on viral transport media. Human bocavirus (HBoV) was detected using the Real-time PCR TaqMan method. Molecular detection of human parechovirus type 1 (HPeV-1) RNA in stool samples was done using a specific nested reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Rota and adeno virus antigens were sought by rapid chromatographic tests. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.Results:Fever was determined in 47.5% of cases (38), nausea and vomiting in 42.5% (34), respiratory symptoms in 16.3% (13), abdominal pain in 76%. Duration of diarrhea was 1-30 days (mean = 6.3 + 4.3 days). No dehydration was observed in 43.5% of subjects, mild dehydration in 33.8%, moderate dehydration in 17.5% and severe dehydration in 5% of cases. Positive rotavirus was found in 48.8% of cases (39), adenovirus in 20% (16), HBoV in 8% (6) and HPeV-1 in 23.2% (19), and adeno and rotaviruses co-infection in 6% (4). The frequency of positive HBoV was significantly lower than adeno and rotaviruses infection (P value = 0.0001). Rotavirus was more frequent in males (P value = 0.003) and in young children (17.49 months vs. 21.44 months) [P value = 0.03, CI = -13.4, 5.5]. Rotavirus infection was related to the degree of dehydration (P value = 0.001) but was not related to the presence of vomiting or fever (P value > 0.5).Conclusions:This study indicates that viral agents, especially rotavirus (48.8%), HPeV-1 (23.2%) and adenovirus (20%) are the most important causes for viral AGE in children while HBoV (8%) is infrequent during childhood. Determination of various viral pathogens of AGE is very important in planning diarrhea disease control strategies in our country where rotavirus vaccination in not routinely used.

Background and Objective: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is one of the most common causes of hospital admission in our young population. This prospective cohort study was carried out to assess the relation of serum levels of zinc, vitamins A and D with UTI in children with proven UTI. Methods: The serum levels of Zinc, vitamins A and D were compared between 25 proven UTI cases (admitted in 2 educational hospitals in Tehran) and 40 controls without infection (children who had undergone for elective surgery). The average age of children was 2.17 years. Atomic absorption Spectrophotometry, Radioimmunoassay, and HPLC methods were used for measuring the Zinc, Vit D and A, respectively. Results: Although the serum levels of zinc were significantly lower in UTI cases (P=0.05), no significant differences had observed between cases and controls for vitamins A and D in sera (P=0.4 and P=0.9). Conclusion: Due to established lower zinc level in UTI cases (p-value = 0.05), zinc deficiency might have a role in susceptibility to UTI in studied children. Administration of zinc could be helpful in preventing UTI. To establish the role of Vitamins A and D in vulnerability to UTI, further extensive research with larger samples is needed. Conclusion: Due to established lower zinc level in UTI cases (p-value = 0.05), zinc deficiency might have a role in susceptibility to UTI in studied children. Administration of zinc could be helpful in preventing UTI. To establish the role of Vitamins A and D in vulnerability to UTI, further extensive research with larger samples is needed.

Background:Since adenoids may act as a reservoir for bacteria, they can cause ear infection, recurrent otitis and recurrent adenotonsillitis. Therefore, adenotonsillectomy is an efficient method for reducing the number and severity of subsequent infections.Objectives:This study aimed to determine the Chlamydophila pneumonia infection by serological tests and performing PCR in the adenoid tissue, in children undergoing adenoid surgery and compare the results with normal children.Patients and Methods:This case control study was conducted in the ENT and pediatric wards of Rasoul Akram Hospital in Tehran (2008-2011). We studied 53 patients who had undergone the adenoid surgery (adenoid hypertrophy concomitant with rhino sinusitis) and 31 other patients undergoing elective surgeries in the general surgery ward (like orthopedic surgeries, hernia, etc.) without any infection (like rhinosinusitis), as the control groups. We searched for C. pneumoniae by PCR kits (Chemicon, Germany) in resected adenoid tissues and nasopharyngeal swabs of controls (ethics restrictions in controls). We also looked for specific IgM & IgG antibodies (ELISA, Biochem Immuno Systems, Italy) and compared them between the two groups. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:Positive PCR results were observed in 13.5% of cases and none of the controls. The condition prevalence was higher in warm seasons (P = 0.05). No correlation was found between positive PCR results and patients' gender. IgM presence was observed in 11% (6.51) of cases and 6.5% (2.31) of controls (P = 0.7). IgG results were not positive in any of the cases (0.51), whereas positive results were seen in 13.3% of the controls (P = 0.007). IgM results showed no significant difference with PCR results (P = 0.7) but IgG results did (P = 0.05).Conclusions:The results of the study showed a positive correlation between PCR and serology (IgM) results in the case group. Recent C. pneumoniae infection was proved to exist by PCR and serology (IgM) in patients who had undergone adenoidectomy. In contrast to the controls, none of the patients in the study group showed previous immunity. Findings indicate the probable role of C. pneumoniae infection, in inducing adenoid hypertrophy in nearly 13% of cases.

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