title: The burden of hospitalised rotavirus infections in Fiji.
abstract: Rotavirus is the most common cause of acute severe dehydrating diarrhoea in young children worldwide. We describe the burden of rotavirus disease and the rotavirus types causing it in the largest city in Fiji. During 2006 and 2007, 592 children under 5 years of age were admitted to hospital in Suva, Fiji with acute diarrhoea. Of the 454 children for whom a stool specimen was tested, 39% were positive for rotavirus and the predominant strain found was the serotype G3[P8]. There is a significant burden of disease due to rotavirus in Fiji and the introduction of rotavirus vaccines into the national immunization schedule may drastically reduce inpatient diarrhoeal disease.
authors.affiliation: Centre for International Child Health, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3051, Australia. jenneya@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jenney
authors.forename: Lisi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tikoduadua
authors.forename: Eka
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Buadromo
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: Carl D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Kirkwood
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boniface
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bines
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mulholland
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005367:Fiji / Q000453:epidemiology; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000235:genetics; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*