Cluster A rotavirus diarrhea in children in Beijing in 2007

Objective To investigate the epidemiologic features of cluster A rotavirus (RV) infection among children with acute diarrhea in Beijing. Methods Stool specimens were collected from 2 039 outpatients with acute diarrhea in the intestine clinic of Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from April to December 2007. The cluster A RV antigen was detected in the stool specimens by the qualitative technique of colloidal gold and immunochromatographic double-antibody sandwich assay. Results Of the 2 039 stool specimens,621 (30. 5% ) were found positive for cluster A RV. The positively detected patients consisted of 430 males (69.2%) and 191 females (30.8% ) ,of whom 571 cases (91.9%) aged from 6 months to 2 years. The cluster A RV was mostly detected during October to December with the positive rate of above 30% ,in which the peak (43.4%) was at November. According to the statistical data of the 18 districts of Beijing ,the cluster A RV antigen positive rates were lower to some extent in the districts near to the downtown area than in the remote counties. A few of cluster A RV positive patients were also found bacterial intestinal infection. Conclusion Cluster A RV is the major pathogen for the acute diarrhea children under 2 years of age in Beijing. And the infants aged from 6 months to 2 years ate the susceptible population for the virus. In addition,October to December epidemics is observed in Beijing. To examine the cluster A RV antigen routinely for the patients with bacterial intestinal infection in the epidemic seasons will contribute to avoiding missed diagnosis and to giving more reasonable treatments. Key words: Rotavirus;  Children;  Infectious diarrhea;  Epidemiology