title: Characteristics of rotavirus gastroenteritis in hospitalized children in Israel.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diarrhea is a leading cause of child mortality worldwide. Rotavirus is one of the most common causes of severe diarrhea and dehydration in children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with rotavirus gastroenteritis to those with other causes of gastroenteritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of children aged 0-18 years hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis in our facility between 1 January 2004 and 31 March 2006 were retrieved. Patients with rotavirus gastroenteritis were compared with patients who were rotavirus negative.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study group comprised 533 patients; 202 tested positive for rotavirus and 331 tested negative. Compared to patients with rotavirus-negative gastroenteritis, patients with rotavirus-positive gastroenteritis had a higher incidence of vomiting (185/202 vs. 212/331, 92% vs. 64%, P < 0.001), lethargy (67/202 vs. 51/331, 33% vs. 15%, P < 0.001), and dehydration (81/202 vs. 78/331, 40% vs. 24%, P < 0.001). The need for intravenous rehydration therapy and the duration of hospitalization were higher in patients with rotavirus gastroenteritis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vomiting and dehydration are more common in hospitalized children with rotavirus gastroenteritis than in children with gastroenteritis due to other causes.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Emergency Unit, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel.
authors.forename: Sivan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perl
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: Matitiahu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berkovitch
authors.forename: Eran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kozer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014839:Vomiting / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology