title: Hospitalizations associated with rotavirus diarrhea in the United States, 1993 through 1995: surveillance based on the new ICD-9-CM rotavirus-specific diagnostic code.
abstract: The introduction of a specific International Classification of Diseases code for rotavirus diarrhea in 1992 prompted examination of the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) for trends in rotavirus-associated hospitalizations among US children aged 1 month through 4 years. During 1993-1995, 13.5% of hospitalizations were associated with diarrhea (n = 162,478/year). Rotavirus was the most common pathogen identified, coded in 16.5% of diarrhea cases (n = 26,798/year), and increased from 13.3% in 1993 to 18.9% in 1995. The age distribution and seasonality of hospitalizations of presumed noninfectious and viral etiology resembled those associated with rotavirus. Rotavirus was reported as a cause of diarrhea more frequently by hospitals that were large (> or =100 beds), proprietary-owned, or in the West/Midwest. Although these findings suggest incomplete detection of rotavirus diarrhea cases, the large number of rotavirus-associated hospitalizations underscores the need for vaccines and indicates that NHDS data could be used to monitor the impact of a US rotavirus immunization program.
authors.affiliation: Epidemic Intelligence Service, Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. UAP2@CDC.GOV
authors.forename: U D
authors.initials: UD
authors.lastname: Parashar
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Holman
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Bresee
authors.forename: R I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Glass
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000639:trends*; D016304:Hospitals, Private; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology