ASTROVIRUS INFECTION
IN YOUNG CHILDREN HOSPITALIZED WITH DIARRHEA IN BEIJING CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
Liu CY, Shen KL, Wang
SX, Liu YY
Beijing Children’s
Hospital, Beijing, China
Objective: To determine the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of astrovirus
infection in children under 5 years of age hospitalized with diarrhea in
Beijing, China.
Methods: From
September 1999 to December 2000, a total of 172 children under 5 years of
age hospitalized with diarrhea in Beijing Children’s hospital were enrolled
in this study. A stool specimen was collected from each patient. Specimens
were detected for astrovirus by indirect enzyme immunoassay.
Results: The incidence
of astrovirus infection was determined as 8.72% (15 of 172 total samples).
Coinfection with rotavirus was detected in 2 0.13%) samples. Patients with
Astrovirus infection were all infants at the age of 0.23 to 12 months,
mainly less than 6 months, including 5 (33.3%) newborns. The astrovirus
infections occurred from September to February (mainly from October to
December). Main symptoms include watery stool (13/15), vomiting (4/15),
fever (2/15), mild dehydration (2/15).
Conclusions: The incidence
of astrovirus infection in young children hospitalized with diarrhea in
Beijing Children’s Hospital was determined as 8.72%.