title: [Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of rotavirus infection in children of Cumaná, Venezuela].
abstract: The detection rate of group A human rotavirus (HRV-A), as well as its association with clinical and epidemiological parameters, was studied in children younger than 5 years old with acute diarrhea attending to the University Hospital "Antonio Patricio de Alcalá" of Cumaná, between march 2006 and september 2007. Of 241 fecal samples collected in this study, 47 (19.5%) were positive to HRV-A by immunoassay. Rotavirus were present throughout the study and the major detection rates were on march, april and may of 2006 (rates were 30,0%, 28,6% y 43,8%, respectively) and september of 2007 (37,5%). Thirty four percent of cases with HRV-A occurred in children of 7 - 12 months and males were the most affected (55.3%), as well as the worker and marginal socioeconomic classes (72,4%). Children that not received maternal feeding were the group mainly infected by HRV-A (61.7%). Most of the children (72.4%) had one to four evacuations/day, with few vomits (38.2%) and fever (10.6%). Almost all the feces (83.0%) had a liquid or semi-liquid aspect. When these results were compared with previous data of the same geographic area, we observed a two-fold decrease of the detection rate of HRV-A and the clinical symptoms were the same as reported by other authors. Of 32 children vaccinated against rotavirus, 30 (93.8%) did not have HVR-A in their feces and there was a significant association between the vaccinated children and protection.
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Oriente, Núcleo de Sucre, Cumaná, Venezuela. mcheo@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maldonado
authors.forename: María C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: Luz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Villalobos de B
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hagel
authors.forename: Rosabel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Jesús W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bastardo
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines; D012621:Seasons; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; C492457:RIX4414 vaccine; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated