title: Characteristics of rotavirus diarrhea in hospitalized children in kosovo.
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. Authors reviewed epidemiological and clinical data of the rotavirus diarrhea in Kosovo.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a prospective study carried between January 1st and December 31st 2011. All data, comprising demographics, nutrition, clinical presentation, laboratory findings, management and outcome of the rotavirus diarrhea are collected on the specially designed form.
  
  
  RESULTS
  116 children with rotavirus diarrhea are included in the study. The majority boys (74.4%) and children aged 0 - 12 months (82.75%). Mean age of children in the study was 16.38 months. Almost every third child in the study was hypotrophic (29.2%). More than half of the infants (55.2%) were on mixed food, somewhat more than every third was breast feeding (36.45%), and every twelfth (8.33%) was on artificial milk (animal or formula). Apart from diarrhea, present in all patients, vomiting (97.41%) and fever (43.96%) were characteristics of the clinical presentation of the diarrhea. Two thirds of the children had mild grade dehydration (70.7%). All patients recovered with no sequels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rotavirus continues to be responsible for a significant portion of acute diarrhea in Kosovo. Clinical features, epidemiological data and the agglutination test are safe enough to establish the diagnosis. Treated correctly rotavirus diarrhea has a favorable outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology. University Clinical Center of Kosovo. Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo.
authors.forename: Vlora
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ismaili-Jaha
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology. University Clinical Center of Kosovo. Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo.
authors.forename: Muje
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shala
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology. University Clinical Center of Kosovo. Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo.
authors.forename: Mehmedali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology. University Clinical Center of Kosovo. Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo.
authors.forename: Teuta
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoxha-Kamberi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology. University Clinical Center of Kosovo. Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo.
authors.forename: Muharrem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Avdiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology. University Clinical Center of Kosovo. Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo.
authors.forename: Shqipe
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spahiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology. University Clinical Center of Kosovo. Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo.
authors.forename: Luan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jaha
keywords: Acute diarrhea; Kosova; rotavirus