Clninical Features of Rotaviral Gastroenteritis in Neonates

Park, Shin I; Kwon, Hae Oak; Lee, Jun Ho; Jung, Su Jin

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+/-1.0) but since then decreased (2.4+/-1.8). 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+/-2.5 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.