title: Impact of rotavirus infections on outpatient clinic visits in chile.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Incorporation of new rotavirus vaccines into national programs of developing countries will rely on well-designed cost-effective analysis based on accurate assessment of disease burden. For Chile, rotavirus disease burden is determined mostly by outpatient clinic and emergency room visits and by hospitalizations. We previously estimated a yearly incidence of 8000 and 53,000 hospitalizations and emergency room visits respectively for children <or=3 years of age.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to quantify the impact of rotavirus as a cause of outpatient clinic visits.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective surveillance protocol between the Health Ministry and the University of Chile in 11 outpatient clinics from 6 regions included reporting of all acute diarrhea cases in children <5 years of age and collection of a stool sample for the first 5 children per week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 5217 acute diarrhea episodes requiring an outpatient medical visit for a total assigned population of 41,927 children <5 years of age were reported from August 1, 2004, to October 30, 2005, in the 11 clinics. A total of 179 rotavirus positive samples were detected from 1313 stools collected for an overall positivity of 13.6% (95% confidence limit: 11.8-15.6%). Rotavirus outpatient visits occurred during all 15 months without a clear seasonal predominance and peaked between 6 months and 2 years of age. G4 types predominated during the 15-month period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For Chilean children </=3 years of age, a yearly estimate of 11,658 to 16,305 outpatient medical visits need to be added to previous disease burden estimates.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Mycology Program, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile. moryan@med.uchile.cl
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Ryan
authors.forename: Janepsy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mamani
authors.forename: Marisol
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Navarrete
authors.forename: Clelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vallebuono
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012703:Serotyping / Q000379:methods