Frequency of Gastroenteritis in Pediatric Emergency Department

Aim: Acute gastroenteritis is an important cause of hospital admissions during childhood. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of rotavirus gastroenteritis in patients admitted to our pediatric emergency department. Material and Methods: Stool specimens of 1767 children admitted to our pediatric emergency department during a one year period (2007) with acute gastroenteritis, were analyzed. Group A rotavirus were investigated in the stool specimens with the immunochromatographic test. All information was collected retrospectively from recorded data. Results: In 422 of the 1767 stool specimens (23.9%), rotavirus antigen were determined. The highest rate of rotavirus infection was detected from December to June, with a peak incidence during January and February, and the lowest during summer months. The incidence of rotavirus positive cases was higher among children between 0-2 years of age. Conclusion: In conclusion, rotavirus is an important cause in children with acute gastroenteritis and it should be investigated routinely, especially in the winter and spring months.