Journal of Clinical Virology
Volume 29, Issue 3 , Pages 189-193, March 2004

Role of rotaviruses in children with acute diarrhea in Tehran, Iran

  • A.H. Zarnani

      Affiliations

    • Department of Immunology, Avecina Research Center, Tehran, Iran
    • Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modarres University, PO Box 14115/111, Tehran, Iran
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +98-21-801-1001; fax: +98-21-800-6544; http://www.modares.ac.ir.
  • ,
  • Sh. Modarres

      Affiliations

    • Department of Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
  • ,
  • F. Jadali

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pathology and Laboratory Sciences, Mofid Pediatric Hospital, Tehran, Iran
  • ,
  • F. Sabahi

      Affiliations

    • Department of Virology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran, Iran
  • ,
  • S.M. Moazzeni

      Affiliations

    • Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modarres University, PO Box 14115/111, Tehran, Iran
  • ,
  • F. Vazirian

      Affiliations

    • Bu-Ali Medical Laboratory, Zanjan, Iran

Received 25 October 2002; received in revised form 14 April 2003; accepted 21 April 2003.

Abstract 

Background: Rotavirus illness is associated with significant cause of morbidity and is a common cause of hospitalization worldwide. Objective: This study was performed to assess the role of rotaviruses in children presenting with acute diarrhea in two main Children's Medical Centers and one general hospital in Tehran. Study design: Stool specimens from 704 children less than 5 years of age suffering from diarrhea were tested for the presence of rotaviruses by a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme immunoassay. A total of 176 fecal specimens collected from healthy children in similar age group were studied as controls. Results: Rotavirus antigen was detected in 15.3% of patients. Infants between 6 and 12 months of age were most frequently affected. Rotavirus infection was significantly less frequent in breast-fed than among bottle-fed babies. Watery diarrhea was present in 68.5% of children. Detection rate was highest in the spring and lowest in summer. Rotavirus can be regarded as a major etiologic agent of acute diarrhea in infants and children up to 5-years-old in Iran, immunization at birth may protect the children before their first symptomatic infection.

Keywords:  Rotaviruses, Enzyme Immunoassay, Gastroenteritis

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PII: S1386-6532(03)00123-9

doi:10.1016/S1386-6532(03)00123-9

Journal of Clinical Virology
Volume 29, Issue 3 , Pages 189-193, March 2004