All issues > Volume 48(10); 2005

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2005;48(10):1121-1125. Published online October 15, 2005.

Clninical Features of Rotaviral Gastroenteritis in Neonates

Shin-I SI Park¹, Hae Oak HO Kwon¹, Jun Ho JH Lee¹, Su Jin SJ Jung¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University, Sungnam, Korea

Correspondence Su Jin SJ Jung ,Email: jinped@hanmail.net

Abstract

Purpose
: Rotavirus is the main cause of infantile diarrheal disease worldwide, especially in patients 3-24 months of age. Infants younger than 3 months of age are relatively protected by transplacental antibody. So the purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical features and severity of neonatal rotaviral gastroenteritis less than 1 month of age.
Methods
: A retrospective chart review was established of 62 neonates less than 1 month of age and with a diagnosis of rotaviral gastroenteritis who had been admitted to Pochon CHA University between June 2002 through July 2004. The rotavirus was examined by stool latex agglutination.
Results
: During 2 years, the total number of admitted patients for rotaviral gastroenteritis was 688 and among these, less than 1 month of age accounted for 9%(62). The occurrence was generally even distribution from January to July(7.14?.0) but since then decreased(2.4?.8). The most common chief complaint was mild fever(46%) when admitted which subsided within 1 hospital day in most patients. 4 patients had seizure and cyanosis with no typical symptoms of rotaviral gastroenteritis. During admission, all the patients had diarrhea. 17% of the patients had leukocytosis and positive C-reactive protein. In one patient, stool occult blood test was positive but there was no necrotizing gastroenteritis evidence. The mean period of hospital day was 5.8?.5 and breast-milk feeding was 62.9%.
Conclusion
: Neonatal rotaviral gastroenteritis is not a rare disease. Most patients have fever and diarrhea and improve through conservative therapy but a few patients may have severe complications so we must be more cautious about the hygiene for prevention.

Keywords :Rotavirus , Neonates