title: [Infectious diarrhoea in children under five years].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to determine the prevalence of rotavirus in acute diarrhea among children under 5 years and to describe the epidemiology, clinical trials of rotavirus diarrhea and compare them with those of other gastroenteritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Prospective study during 1 year (1 January 2007-31 December 2007) was conducted in the department of Pediatrics B of the Children's Hospital of Tunis. 117 children aged under than 5 years and admitted for acute community gastroenteritis were included in the study. A search of rotavirus in the stool, collected within 48 hours of admission, was performed by a rapid detection of viral antigens: proteins specific RV group A (VP6 protein of the capsid) using enzyme immunoassay technique: sandwich ELISA (IDEIA Rotavirus Dako).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rotavirus diarrhea accounted for 25% of acute gastroenteritis. The average age of rotavirus gastroenteritis was 11 months +/- 1.78. We have noted a male predominance with a sex ratio of 1.2. The seasonal distribution of rotavirus gastroenteritis showed three peaks of incidence (January, May and July). The respiratory signs were more frequently found in rotavirus gastroenteritis group. Rotavirus gastroenteritis had a higher severity score compared with other gastroenteritis (8.44 vs 6.75 P = 0.01). The duration of hospitalization was longer in rotavirus group with a difference close to significance p = 0.07.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The seasonal distribution of rotavirus gastroenteritis has three peaks of incidence. The gastroenteritis Rotavirus affects very young infants and has more severe symptoms than other gastroenteritis and is significantly associated with respiratory signs.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Infantile B, Hospital d'enfants de Tunis.
authors.forename: Faten
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tinsa
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brini
authors.forename: Salem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yahyaoui
authors.forename: Olfa
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bousenna
authors.forename: Khadija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bousetta
authors.forename: Alim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trabelsi
authors.forename: Souad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bousnina
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012621:Seasons; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors