A prospective evaluation of community acquired gastroenteritis in paediatric practices: impact and disease burden of rotavirus infection

Aims-To examine the disease burden and epidemiology of community acquired r otavirus gastroenteritis in Austrian children treated in a paediatric pract ice. Methods-A prospective, population based, multicentre study in four paediatr ic practices and two children's hospitals (Innsbruck and Leoben). Children less than or equal to 48 months of age presenting with gastroenteritis duri ng a six month period of rotavirus peak between December 1997 and May 1998 were included. Prospective testing of stool samples for rotavirus was perfo rmed using ELISA. Results-A total of 6969 children were enrolled; 171 (2.4%) had community ac quired gastroenteritis. Of 144 children who could be included in further an alysis, 49 (34%; median age 16.7 months) were rotavirus positive, and 95 (6 6%; median age 17.0 months) were rotavirus negative. Three of the rotavirus positive children (median age 14.6 months) were hospitalised. The severity of rotavirus positive gastroenteritis was significantly higher than that o f rotavirus negative gastroenteritis. The incidence of community acquired g astroenteritis was 4.67 per 100 children per year, and of rotavirus positiv e gastroenteritis 1.33 per 100 children per year. Conclusion-Rotavirus is a relevant cause of community acquired gastroenteri tis in children aged 4 years and younger treated by a paediatrician. The da ta can be used as a basis for developing strategies to prevent infection.