Epidemiology and clinical features of gastroenteritis in hospitalised children: prospective survey during a 2-year period in a Parisian hospital, France

Abstract

International audienceRotavirus is recognised as the most important agent of severe acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in young children. In a 2-year prospective survey, we investigated the epidemiology and clinical features of the viral and bacterial pathogens in children hospitalised for AGE. The study was performed in a Parisian teaching hospital from November 2001 to May 2004. Clinical data were prospectively collected to assess the gastroenteritis severity (20-point Vesikari severity score, the need for intravenous rehydration, duration of hospitalisation). Stools were systematically tested for group A rotavirus, norovirus, astrovirus and adenovirus 40/41, sapovirus and Aichi virus and enteropathogenic bacteria. A total of 457 children (mean age 15.9 months) were enrolled. Viruses were detected in 305 cases (66.7%) and bacteria in 31 cases (6.8%). Rotaviruses were the most frequent pathogen (48.8%), followed by noroviruses (8.3%) and adenoviruses, astroviruses, Aichi viruses and sapoviruses in 3.5%, 1.5%, 0.9% and 0.4%, respectively. Cases of rotavirus gastroenteritis were significantly more severe than those of norovirus with respect to the Vesikari score, duration of hospitalisation and the need for intravenous rehydration. Rotaviruses were the most frequent and most severe cause in children hospitalised for AGE, and noroviruses also account for a large number of cases in this population

Genotypic distribution of rotavirus strains causing severe gastroenteritis in children under 5 years old in Borazjan, Iran

“…In recent studies, it was calculated that the rotaviruses cause approximately 111 million episodes of the gastroenteritis requiring only home care, 25 million clinical visits, 2 million hospitalizations and 352,000-592,000 deaths in children aged <5 years old worldwide, each year (Parashar et al, 2003). The frequency of rotavirus detection in this study (27.85%) was in keeping with numerous other studies conducted in developing and developed countries that have reported rotavirus to be responsible for between 14 and 50% of all cases of gastroenteritis (Nelson et al, 2008;Lacroix et al, 2010;Mladenova et al, 2010;Jere et al, 2011;Lorrot et al, 2011). Extensive molecular epidemiological studies globally have indicated that G1 is the most common circulating genotype.…”

Comprehensive Review of Human Sapoviruses

“…In general, the severity of sapovirus gastroenteritis is milder than that for rotavirus and norovirus (Table 5) (185,186,191). Gastroenteritis symptoms are usually self-limiting, and patients usually recover within a couple of days; however, the symptoms, severity, and duration of disease are dependent on the individual, and sapovirus infection sometimes leads to hospitalization (22,152,167,(193)(194)(195)(196)(197)(198)(199)(200)(201)(202)(203)(204)(205)(206)(207)(208)(209). Mortality is rare, but it was reported from outbreaks that occurred in a long-term-care facility for the elderly (104).…”

Novel human astroviruses: challenges for developing countries

“…In a separate study from France, astroviruses were detected in 1.5 % cases of children hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis [21]. In Saudi Arabia, astrovirus associated diarrhoea cases were reported in 1.5 % of pediatric population and faecal specimens were characterized for genotype by using molecular methods (PCR, RT-PCR, and RFLP) [35].…”