Epidemiological study on the role of rotavirus in diarrhoeal disease of children under five years of age in the Mekong Delta area, Viet Nam (1993-1997)

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of rotavirus in diarrhoeal disease of children under five years of age living in the Mekong delta area (1993-1997). ELISA method was applied for detecting rotavirus in stools. The results showed that the identification rate of rotavirus in acute diarrhea cases detected from household visits was 6.5% (32/494 specimens), in acute diarrhea cases hospitalized was 22.4% (15/67 specimens) and in persistent diarrhea cases hospitalized was 11% (10/91 specimens). Rotavirus was also identified in healthy children (0.7%). Rotavirus identification rate was higher in children under 1 year of age than in children over 1 year of age; no difference between malnourished children and normal children; higher in the dry season (November, December, January, February, March).