Rotavirus infection in infants and young children with acute gastroenteritis in the Islamic Republic of Iran

The incidence of rotavirus infection was studied in 704 children less than five years of age who were suffering from acute gastroenteritis, between July 1993 and June 1994 in Teheran. Rotavirus antigen was detected by ELISA in 15.3% of the stool samples examined, as compared to 1.1% in a group of healthy controls. The frequency of rotavirus infection was significantly higher among patients under 24 months of age [19.7%] than among children two years old or more [5.1%]. Breast-feeding had a protective action against rotavirus infection and the peak of incidence was in the spring. This study revealed that rotavirus is an important etiological agent of acute gastroenteritis among children in Teheran