ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the variation and significance of serum and stool IL-18 and IFN-gamma levels in children with rotavirus enteritis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Serum and stool specimens from 50 children with acute rotavirus enteritis were collected before treatment. Serum and stool levels of IL-18 and IFN-gamma were measured using ELISA. Serum and stool specimens from 21 age and gender-matched healthy children were used as the Control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum and stool levels of IL-18 and IFN-gamma in patients with rotavirus enteritis were significantly higher than those in the Control group. There was a negative correlation between the serum IFN-gamma level and the frequency of vomiting (r=-0.368, P < 0.05). The stool IL-18 level negatively correlated to the frequency of diarrhea (r=-0.414, P < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between the serum levels of IL-18 and IFN-gamma (r=0.416, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Serum and stool levels of IL-18 and IFN-gamma were increased and associated with the severity in children with rotavirus enteritis. IL-18 and IFN-gamma might have protective effects against acute rotavirus infection at the early stage.</p>