Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of rotavirus disease during five years of surveillance in Venezuela.
BACKGROUND
To effectively introduce a rotavirus vaccine in developing countries, it is necessary to estimate the burden of rotavirus disease. Therefore we examined the epidemiologic and clinical features of rotavirus diarrhea in children younger than 5 years of age in Carabobo State and extrapolated these results to the rest of Venezuela.


METHODS
From January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2002, we conducted surveillance for rotavirus diarrhea in all children younger than 5 years of age at the Ciudad Hospitalaria Dr Enrique Tejera, in Valencia (Carabobo).


RESULTS
Rotavirus is the major cause of diarrhea in children younger than 5 years of age in Venezuela, accounting for one-fourth (23%) of all episodes of diarrhea requiring medical treatment and one-third (33%) of those requiring hospitalization. Rotavirus diarrhea was responsible for 3% of all hospitalizations and 2% of all medical visits. In Valencia, rotavirus had a marked seasonal peak during the dry and cold months of the year. Rotavirus was most frequent in children 3-23 months of age, and 61% of the cases occurred by the age of 1 year. In addition, rotavirus diarrhea was more severe in younger children. Overall, by the age of 5 years, 1 child in 72 will be hospitalized and 1 in 24 will visit the clinic for rotavirus disease. In Venezuela, we estimated that each year, 118,000 children experience rotavirus illness requiring medical care and 39,000 children require hospitalization.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms the significant impact of rotavirus disease in Venezuela. Rotavirus vaccines currently in development could diminish the morbidity associated with this common cause of childhood diarrheal disease.
Salinas
Belén
B
Ciudad Hospitalaria Dr Enrique Tejera-Insalud, Universidad de Carabobo, Estado Carabobo, Venezuela.
González
Germán
G
González
Rosabel
R
Escalona
Marisol
M
Materán
Mercedes
M
Schael
Irene Pérez
IP
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012621:Seasons; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology