title: Norovirus prevalence in 'pathogen negative' gastroenteritis in children from periurban areas in Lima, Peru.
abstract: Norovirus was detected in 17.4% of 224 diarrhoeal samples from children younger than 24 months of age in Lima, in whom all common pathogens had been excluded (pathogen negative). Norovirus was identified more frequently in children older than 12 months of age than in younger children (34% vs 8%, P<0.001). Among norovirus-positive samples, genogroup II was the predominant group (92%). Compared with rotavirus, norovirus episodes tended to be of shorter duration and less severe. The role of norovirus as a cause of diarrhoea and the ascertainment of its severity in developing countries needs further confirmation by future epidemiological studies.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, San Martin de Porres, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Fulton P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: Theresa J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ochoa
authors.forename: Joaquim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Anicia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ecker
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mercado
authors.forename: Ana I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huicho
authors.forename: Claudio F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lanata
mesh_terms: D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D029322:Norovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013383:Suburban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*