Changes in the Occurrence of Rotavirus Gastroenteritis before and after the Introduction of Rotavirus Vaccine among Hospitalized Pediatric Patients and Estimates of Rotavirus Vaccine Effectiveness

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the changes in the occurrence of rotavirus gastroenteritis (RGE) after the introduction of rotavirus vaccine and estimate rotavirus vaccine effectiveness in hospitalized children. METHODS: We compared the retrospective data of 671 patients with acute gastroenteritis (AGE) admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University Seoul Hospital from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2015, with retrospective data of 1,243 patients admitted to the same institution with AGE from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2005. The vaccine effectiveness was estimated using a case-positive control test-negative study. RESULTS: The proportion of RGE in AGE was significantly lower in 2014 to 2015 (9.0%, 48/531) than in 2004 to 2005 (22.7%, 282/1,243) (P <0.001). In particular, there was a significant decrease in the 6- to 11-, 12- to 23-, and 24- to 35-month-old groups (P <0.001), whose rotavirus vaccination rates were higher than the remaining age groups. The monthly distribution of patients with RGE in 2004 to 2005 was higher from November to May, peaked in January, followed by December and February. In 2014 to 2015, the monthly distribution of patients with RGE slightly peaked in January. In 2014 to 2015 study, the complete rotavirus vaccination rate was 66.0% (332/503) and incomplete vaccination rate was 6.2% (31/503). Presumed rotavirus vaccine effectiveness was 83.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 60.5% to 92.9%) in the complete vaccination group and 27.4% (95% CI, –163.7% to 80.0%) in the incomplete group. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of RGE in AGE has markedly decreased since the introduction of rotavirus vaccines, and improving vaccination coverage will further reduce the burden of RGE in Korea.

Hair Zinc Level Analysis and Correlative Micronutrients in Children Presenting with Malnutrition and Poor Growth / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: Zinc deficiency can induce serious clinical problems in the gastrointestinal (GI) system and immune system and can affect growth and development. It is more severe in younger patients. Chronic zinc deficiency is reflected more precisely in hair than in serum. We studied hair zinc levels and other hair and serum micronutrients in chronic malnourished children to identify which micronutrients are affected or correlated with the other ones. METHODS: Hair mineral analyses were performed in 56 children (age, 1-15 years) presenting with malnutrition, poor growth, poor appetite, anorexia, with/without other GI symptoms (diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation) from August 2012 to March 2015. Biochemical studies for macronutrients and major micronutrients were also conducted. RESULTS: Hair zinc deficiency was diagnosed in 88%, and serum zinc deficiency was diagnosed in 55% of the children. There was no statistical correlation between serum and tissue zinc level. Hair zinc levels were highly correlated with serum vitamin D (r=−0.479, p=0.001), which also showed correlation with hair levels of magnesium and calcium. (r=0.564, 0.339, p=0.001, 0.011). Hair calcium level was correlated with serum pre-albumin (r=0.423, p=0.001). These correlations may explain the phenomenon that the major clinical manifestation of zinc deficiency is poor body growth. Clinical symptoms were resolved in most children after zinc supplementation. CONCLUSION: Hair zinc and mineral analyses are useful as a therapeutic guide in the clinical investigation of children with malnutrition and poor growth.