title: Severity of rotavirus gastroenteritis in an Indian population: report from a 3 year surveillance study.
abstract: This study investigated the severity of rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) in hospitalized children less than 60 months of age and compared severity in the first five months of life to severity in children 6 to 23 months of age. Results from a 3 year surveillance study show an early peak of rotavirus disease, with 117 (31%) RVGE hospitalizations in children <6 months old. Higher incidence of severe dehydration, acidemia and acidosis at admission and prolonged hospitalization >7 days were seen in infants 0-5 months of age. The findings support the need for consideration of timely immunization or an accelerated immunization schedule with a birth dose to protect this vulnerable age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, St. Stephens' Hospital, Delhi, India. Electronic address: lailam12@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.affiliation: Leprosy Mission Trust, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: P S Sundar
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.
authors.forename: Thuppal V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Sowmyanarayanan
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.
authors.forename: Gagandeep
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012401:Rotavirus; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012621:Seasons; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Acidosis; Electrolytes; Infancy; Rotavirus; Vaccine