Abstract
BackgroundRotavirus (RV) infection in neonates can be mild or even asymptomatic. In RV infection, jaundice is often reported, but the relationship between jaundice and RV infection has not been studied. This study aimed to determine the importance of asymptomatic RV screening in neonates with jaundice.MethodsNeonates from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Chonbuk National University Hospital, those transferred from local obstetrics and gynecology hospitals and outpatient clinics were selected from 2014 to 2017. The study included only infants aged between 3 and 28 days. Jaundice was defined according to gestational age and birth age, in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines criteria. RV infection was confirmed by a stool test, and RV screening and laboratory tests were performed at admission.ResultsAmong 596 patients, 166 patients had jaundice. RV infection was observed in 70 (42%) jaundice patients. There were 36 (22%) jaundice patients with asymptomatic RV infection. Patients with onset of jaundice 3–7 days after birth had a high incidence of RV infection. When the RV test was positive, the risk of jaundice was significantly high [odds ratio (OR) 1.89; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.20–2.98; p = 0.006].ConclusionsInfants with the onset of jaundice > 3 days after birth were likely to have RV infection. Therefore, we suggest that screening tests for RV infection be included as part of the evaluation of jaundiced infants presenting to NICU.
Highlights
Rotavirus (RV) infection in neonates can be mild or even asymptomatic
Study participants A retrospective study of 1755 patients admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Chonbuk National University Hospital through local obstetrics and gynecology hospitals and outpatient clinics was conducted from June 2014 to June 2017
It is known that asymptomatic infants usually develop asymptomatic infections due to the newborn strain, which is completely different from the RV strain found in pediatric patients, but it is known to cause diarrhea, dehydration, jaundice, metabolic acidosis, necrotizing enteritis, and even death [18]
Summary
In RV infection, jaundice is often reported, but the relationship between jaundice and RV infection has not been studied. Rotavirus (RV) is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in children, and 43–78% of asymptomatic neonatal infections have been described [1]. Many conditions may clinically present as prolonged neonatal jaundice, including neonatal hepatitis and extrahepatic biliary atresia. These conditions have numerous infectious, metabolic, and genetic causes [6]. Multiple studies have described patients with proven bacterial infections who developed jaundice during the course of their illness [7, 8]. Studies on jaundice due to bacterial infections have progressed, there are limited studies on jaundice caused by viral infections. We investigated the relationship between asymptomatic RV infection and jaundice in neonates
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