Epidemiology of Rotavirus Gastroenteritis and Rotavirus-Associated Benign Convulsions with Mild Gastroenteritis after the Introduction of Rotavirus Vaccines in South Korea: Nationwide Data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service.

Dong Hyun Kim,Yeong Seok Lee,Young Se Kwon,Min Jun Chun,Dong Jun Ha

doi:10.3390/ijerph17228374

Dong Hyun Kim, Yeong Seok Lee + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228374

Copy DOI

Abstract

Using nationwide data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment service, we assessed the impact of rotavirus vaccines, introduced in South Korea, in 2007, on changes in the prevalence of factors (age, sex, and geographic location) associated with rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) and rotavirus-associated benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis (RaCwG). We analyzed health records of children younger than 3 years who visited clinical facilities and were diagnosed with RVGE or RaCwG between 2007 and 2019. The annual mid-year population (MYP) was obtained from the Korean Statistical Information Service. The annual prevalence of RVGE, RaCwG and associated factors were statistically analyzed. Overall, 219,686, and 4032, children were confirmed to have RVGE and RaCwG, respectively. Although the annual prevalence of RVGE decreased significantly, that of RaCwG did not. The annual ratio of RaCwG to RVGE was significantly high. Compared to the prevalence of RVGE, the prevalence of RaCwG was significantly lower in rural areas. The age of RaCwG patients was significantly lower than that of the MYP and that of RVGE patients. The decrease in the number of RaCwG patients after rotavirus vaccination was not as pronounced as the decrease in the number of RVGE patients.

Highlights

Rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide; it has a high hospitalization rate and is responsible for ~120,000 to ~215,000 deaths of children younger than 5 years each year [1,2,3]
rotavirus-associated benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis (RaCwG) was diagnosed at a younger age and occurred more often in urban areas than in rural areas compared to RVGE
We found that the total prevalence of RaCwG, which was as low as 0.024%, decreased 0.941 times per year

Summary

Introduction

Rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide; it has a high hospitalization rate and is responsible for ~120,000 to ~215,000 deaths of children younger than 5 years each year [1,2,3]. Benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis (CwG) were first reported by Morooka [9] as mild gastroenteritis causing afebrile convulsions without severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and hypoglycemia. Komori et al [10] reported the following characteristics of CwG:. (1) afebrile seizure occurring within 5 days of acute viral gastroenteritis in previously healthy infants and children; (2) absence of moderate or severe dehydration; (3) presence or absence of repeated convulsive seizures for several days; (4) absence of abnormal cerebrospinal fluid analyses results, Int. J. Public Health 2020, 17, 8374; doi:10.3390/ijerph17228374 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion