Natural history of rotavirus infection in the children of Santa Maria Cauque

Abstract

A prospective observation of 45 cohort children from birth to three years of age permitted the collection of 5689 weekly stool specimens, along with frequent morbidity, dietary and growth data. Specimens tested by the EtISA showed that all children became infected with rotaviruses during the first three years of life, many repeatedly. The overall rotavirus incidence was 10.6 per 100 child-months (or 1.3 infections per child per year). Rotaviruses exhibited a high pathogenic potential estimated in 65%, but only about 10% of all diarrheas appeared associated with them. Rotaviruses occurred throughout the year but clustering was evident in August through December, with epidemics of greater severity in particular months of certain years. During outbreaks, from a third to one half of all children became infected with rotaviruses in a given month. This and the frequent association of rotaviruses with other enteric agents ;(34 %) suggest that fecal-oral transmission is the main source of infection, a net result of the prevailing low socioeconomic level in the village setting.