Epidemiology of rotavirus diarrhea in Egyptian children and implications for disease control

Reliable epidemiologic data are essential for formulating effective policy to control rotavirus disease through immunization. The objective of this st udy was to describe the epidemiology of rotavirus diarrhea in a population- based cohort of children under 3 years of age residing in Abu Homos, Egypt, in 1995-1996. Rotavirus diarrhea incidence rates (episodes per person-year ) were 0.13 for infants aged <6 months, 0.61 for those aged 6-11 months, 0. 17 for those aged 12-23 months, and 0.15 for those aged 24-35 months. Fifty -six percent of children with rotavirus diarrhea had clinical dehydration; 90% of rotavirus diarrheal episodes occurred between July and November. In infants under I year of age, receipt of breast milk was associated with a l ower incidence of rotavirus diarrhea. No other sociodemographic or environm ental factor was found to be significantly associated with rotavirus diarrh ea. Of 46 rotavirus isolates with strains identified, 41 (89%) were G serot ypes 1 and 2. Rotavirus diarrhea was a major cause of morbidity in this coh ort. Promotion of breastfeeding may exert a protective effect in young infa nts in this setting, but improvements in water and sanitation are unlikely to be effective preventive measures. The use of effective immunization agai nst rotavirus in early infancy should be considered a public health priorit y.