Rotavirus causing acute gastroenteritis infection in children at our hospital (eastern region of Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

Rotavirus infection causing acute gastroenteritis is quite prevalent. Main purpose of this study is to detect Rotavirus from faecal samples of children up to two years age. Retrospective study to investigate cases of Rotavirus antigen positive. The prevalence of rotavirus, as determined by STAT Rotavirus is a rapid enzyme immunoassay. Study is done from 1 January, 2011 to 31 December, 2012 at our hospital, Saudi Arabia. A total of 13,580 stools samples were screened in two years. Seventy percent (9491) of these were screened for infective cause and 30% (4062) for non–infective cause. We received 2531 (19.0%) for stool bacterial culture and sensitivity, 6013 (44.0%) for ova and parasites and 974 (7.0%) of requisitions for Rotavirus infection. Rotavirus requisitions were 974 out of which 182 (18.7%) positive for Rotavirus. In year 2011, out of 498 faecal sample 92 (18.5%) were positive and in 2012 out of 476 there were 90 (19.0%) positive. Rotavirus acute gastroenteritis is prevalent in our population.