ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the percentage of rotavirus infection in children aged less than 14 years old and the epidemiology in area 02 of the province of Castellón (Spain). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study from January 1995 to December 2004 in which 14,068 stool samples from pediatric patients with acute gastroenteritis were analyzed. The variables analyzed were sex, age, origin, diagnosis of rotavirus, and date of diagnosis. Differences were considered statistically significant if p<0.05. RESULTS: Rotavirus was detected in 11.9% of the samples (1687 cases) in the 10 years of the study, 12.14 % corresponded to boys and 11.81% to girls (p=0.5459). The mean age of the population was 2.63 years. The highest percentage of cases occurred in the group aged 1- 4 years old (14.1%; p<0.001) and in outpatients (12.76%; p<0.05). In this geographical region, there was a significant tendency (p<0.001) for rotavirus to occur in the winter months. CONCLUSION: Rotavirus is one of the main causes of morbidity in children both in the hospital and the outpatient setting. Children aged less than 4 years old are most frequently affected, especially those aged 1 year. The infection appears mainly in winter.
Subject(s)
Rotavirus Infections/epidemiology , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Retrospective Studies , Spain/epidemiology , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Objetivo. El objetivo de este trabajo es conocer el porcentaje de la infección por rotavirus en niños menores de 14 años y su epidemiología en el área 02 de la provincia de Castellón. Material y métodos. Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo desde enero de 1995 hasta diciembre de 2004 en el que se analizaron 14.068 muestras de heces de pacientes pediátricos con gastroenteritis aguda. Las variables analizadas fueron: sexo, edad, procedencia, diagnóstico de rotavirus y fecha de diagnóstico. Se consideraron valores significativos p < 0,05. Resultados. El rotavirus fue detectado en el 11,9 % (1.687 casos) en los 10 años del estudio; el 12,14 % en varones y el 11,81 % en mujeres (p = 0,5459). La edad media de la población del estudio fue de 2,63 años. El grupo que presentó el mayor porcentaje de casos fue el de 1 a 4 años con el 14,1 % (p < 0,001) y pacientes ambulatorios con el 12,76 % (p < 0,05). En nuestra área, el rotavirus predomina significativamente (p < 0,001) en los meses de invierno. Conclusión. El rotavirus es una de las causas más importantes de morbilidad en la edad pediátrica en el hospital y en el ambulatorio. Afecta más frecuentemente a los niños menores de 4 años, y principalmente a los de 1 año. La infección se presentó de forma predominante en el invierno
Objective. To determine the percentage of rotavirus infection in children aged less than 14 years old and the epidemiology in area 02 of the province of Castellón (Spain). Material and methods. We performed a retrospective study from January 1995 to December 2004 in which 14,068 stool samples from pediatric patients with acute gastroenteritis were analyzed. The variables analyzed were sex, age, origin, diagnosis of rotavirus, and date of diagnosis. Differences were considered statistically significant if p < 0.05. Results. Rotavirus was detected in 11.9 % of the samples (1687 cases) in the 10 years of the study, 12.14 % corresponded to boys and 11.81 % to girls (p = 0.5459). The mean age of the population was 2.63 years. The highest percentage of cases occurred in the group aged 1- 4 years old (14.1 %; p < 0.001) and in outpatients (12.76 %; p < 0.05). In this geographical region, there was a significant tendency (p < 0.001) for rotavirus to occur in the winter months. Conclusion. Rotavirus is one of the main causes of morbidity in children both in the hospital and the outpatient setting. Children aged less than 4 years old are most frequently affected, especially those aged 1 year. The infection appears mainly in winter
