ABSTRACT
To detect rotavirus antigen in infants and young children with acute diarrhea and gastroenteritis. Rotavirus is a major cause of gastroenteritis and diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide. Fecal samples from 150 children with ages ranging from 1 month to 5 years, living in Gaza, who presented with acute diarrhea episodes, were analyzed for rotavirus antigen. The analysis was carried out using an immunochromatography-based diagnostic kit [The Rota Stick One-Step test, Novamed Ltd, Jerusalem]. The study was conducted during the peak diarrheal season [May-August] of the year 2005. Rotavirus was detected in 28% [42/150] of the fecal specimens examined, and the majority of patients 90% [38/42], who were positive for the virus were 1 to 24 months old, and the infection rate decreased with increasing age. The highest rate of rotavirus antigen detection was observed among the 12 to 24 months age group 41.9%. Children infected with rotavirus were more likely to have watery stool [95.2%], vomiting [92.9%], moderate dehydration [14.3%] and fever has low frequency [73.8%]. The findings of this study demonstrate that rotavirus is one of the most frequently detected, yet a routinely neglected pathogen during stool examinations in Gaza strip health laboratories. Timely diagnosis of rotavirus infection in patients with acute diarrhea helps to determine appropriate treatment, prevents the unnecessary use of antibiotics and minimizes the spread of the disease. To our knowledge, this is the first report on occurrence of rotavirus infection among children of Gaza since 1994