Grimwood K, Huang QS, Cohet C, Gosling IA, Hook SM, Teele DW, Pinnock RE, Nicholson WR, Graham DA, Farrell AP, Leadbitter P, Lennon DR. Rotavirus hospitalisation in New Zealand children under 3 years of age.
J Paediatr Child Health 2006;
42:196-203. [PMID:
16630321 DOI:
10.1111/j.1440-1754.2006.00829.x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To describe the epidemiology of severe rotavirus gastroenteritis and to estimate the hospitalisation rates of this illness in New Zealand children under 3 years of age.
METHODS
Children under 3 years of age with acute diarrhoea admitted to 1 of 8 study hospitals between 1 May 1998 and 30 April 2000 were surveyed. Their socio-demographic, treatment and length-of-stay data were recorded and stool samples tested by a rotavirus-specific enzyme-linked immunoassay. National hospital discharge data for infectious diarrhoea (International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision, 003-009) were reviewed, allowing population-based estimates for rotavirus-related hospitalisation in New Zealand.
RESULTS
Of 2019 enrolled children, 1138 (56.4%) provided stools for testing, and of these 485 (42.6%) tested rotavirus positive. Rotavirus detection varied significantly by age (26.8% for 0 to 5 months, 42.5% for 6 to 11 months and 52.1% for children aged 12 to 35 months; P < 0.001), and by season (51.2% in winter/spring vs. 24.5% in summer/autumn; P < 0.001). While those infected with rotavirus were more likely to be dehydrated (50.6% vs. 37.4%; P < 0.001), their median hospital stay was similar (1.0 vs. 2.0 days; P = 0.09) to other children with acute gastroenteritis. The estimated national hospitalisation rate for rotavirus diarrhoea in children under 3 years, standardised for age and season, was 634 (95% CI 597, 672) per 100,000. In New Zealand, rotaviruses result in 1 in 52 children being hospitalised by 3 years of age.
CONCLUSIONS
Rotavirus diarrhoea is an important, potentially vaccine-preventable cause of hospitalisation in New Zealand children, especially during winter and spring seasons.
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