Relative Frequency of Rotavirus and Adenovirus Among Children Aged 1-60 Months Hospitalized With Acute Diarrhoea in South-Western, Iran

More than three million children in developing countries die from acute diarrhea annually. Rotaviruses and Adenoviruses are from the most important etiologic factors in acute gastroenteritis of children. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of rotavirus and ad- enovirus among children with acute diarrhoea admitted to Abuzar Hospital in Ahvaz (Southwest Iran). Patients and Methods: In a descriptive, cross-sectional study over 1 year (September 2009 to August 2010), children who were admitted to Abuzar Hospital in Ahvaz with a diagnosis of acute diarrhoea were studied. Stools were examined with ELISA kits for de- tection of adenoviruses and rotaviruses. Results: Of 180 children in our study, 104 were boys (57.8%) and 76 were girls (42.2%), with a mean age of 12.86 months (1–60 months). Sixty-three (35%) had rotavirus infections (mean age, 11.57 months), and 6 (3.3%) had adenovirus infections (mean age, 8.17 months). We examined the seasonal distribution and found that 12 cases (19%) had occurred in spring, 11 (17.5%) in summer, 24 (38.1%) in autumn, and 16 (25.4%) in winter. There was no signifcant correlation between sex and viral agents causing acute diarrhoea (P = 0.96). Conclusions: This survey showed a high incidence of rotavirus infection (35%) in chil- dren with acute diarrhoea, especially in children under 2 years old. It seems that use of an appropriate vaccine could efectively prevent diarrhoea in this population.