ABSTRACT
Acute diarrhea is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in young children. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of rotavirus infections in children with acute gastroenteritis in Isfahan. Also seasonal variations and the effects of environmental conditions, type of nutrition and child care on the prevalence of rotavirus infections are evaluated. A total of 185 hospitalized children with acute diarrhea and 91 controls were selected by simple random sampling. Stool specimens were obtained at the time of admission and checked for rotavirus antigens by ELISA method. Demographic data regarding age, sex, type of nutrition [breast-fed vs. bottle-fed] and child care [at home vs. day care-center] of children with acute diarrhea were also recorded. Rotavirus was detected in the feces of 57 [30.8%] children with acute diarrhea and 11 [12.1%] stool samples from control children [p<0.05]. 84.2% of cases with rotavirus gastroenteritis were under 2 years of age with highest prevalence in children 6-12 months of age. The relative frequency of rotavirus gastroenteritis was higher in winter [41.4%] than other seasons. Bottle-fed children and those cared at child care centers showed higher relative frequency of rotavirus gastroenteritis. Rotaviruses are important and prevalent etiologic agents of acute gastroenteritis in young children in Isfahan. Being in day care centers and bottle-feeding can serve as precipitating factors of rotavirus diseases in this age group