All issues > Volume 52(4); 2009

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2009;52(4):453-457. Published online April 15, 2009.

Clinical features of acute noroviral gastroenteritis in children : comparison with rotaviral gastroenteritis

Pil-Joo PJ Hwang¹, Ji Hee JH Kwak¹, Taek Jin TJ Lee¹, Su Jin SJ Jeong¹

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

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

Abstract

Purpose
: Our aim was to describe the clinical features of noroviral gastroenteritis in children.
Methods
: This study included 22 children with noroviral gastroenteritis, as confirmed by stool RT-PCR, who were admitted to Bundang CHA Hospital between July 2006 and June 2008. Their medical records were reviewed and compared with those of 45 children with rotaviral gastroenteritis.
Results
: In the norovirus group, 19 (86.4%) children showed vomiting and 21 (95.5%) children showed diarrhea, while all children in the rotaviral group showed both vomiting and diarrhea. The duration of vomiting was not different in the two groups, but mean episodes of vomiting/24 h were higher in the norovirus group than in the rotavirus group. The duration of diarrhea was longer and mean episodes of diarrhea/24 h were higher in the rotavirus group. The Vesikari Scale was not different in the two groups. Frequency and duration of fever did not show a significant difference. Most children in both groups were below 2 years of age.
Conclusion
: Clinical features of noroviral gastroenteritis were largely similar to those of rotaviral gastroenteritis, but vomiting was more severe in noroviral infection, and diarrhea was more severe and prolonged in rotaviral infection. With regard to noroviral infection, further epidemiologic investigations and preventive efforts are essential.

Keywords :Norovirus, Rotavirus, Children, Gastroenteritis