Burden of rotavirus disease in young children in Iceland – Time to vaccinate?

BACKGROUND Acute gastroenteritis poses a significant burden on young children, families, health care facilities and societies. Rotavirus is the most common pathogen, but rotavirus infections are vaccine preventable. Information on the epidemiology of gastroenteritis in Icelandic children has until now not been available and rotavirus vaccination is currently not offered to Icelandic infants. The objective of this study was to assess the burden of rotavirus acute gastroenteritis in young children in Iceland and determine the potential benefit of adding rotavirus vaccine to the Icelandic childhood immunization schedule. METHODS For a two-year period, children < 6 years old attending a children's emergency department for acute gastroenteritis were recruited at the Children's Hospital in Reykjavik, Iceland. Demographic information and Vesikari scores were registered. Stool samples were analyzed for pathogens. Duration of symptoms, treatment given, and secondary household infections were among the collected information. Annual cost of the infections in young children was estimated based on health care expenditures and lost days of parental work. RESULTS 325 children were included in the study, 75% of which were ≤ 24 months old. A pathogen was identified in 80% of cases, of which rotavirus was identified in 54%. Rotavirus caused a more severe disease than other pathogens, more often leading to fluid treatment in the emergency department and admissions. Median duration of rotavirus-illness was six days and caused a median of four days lost from work by parents. The estimated annual cost of rotavirus acute gastroenteritis was €2.9 million. CONCLUSIONS Rotavirus causes significant disease burden in young children. Although rarely life-threatening in high income countries, the costs for society are substantial. The inclusion of rotavirus vaccine in the national immunization schedule will reduce the disease burden and would be cost-saving in Iceland.