Epidemiology of Acute Viral Gastroenteritis in Children Hospitalized in Rouen, France

This study assessed the epidemiologic characteristics of acute viral gastroenteritis in hospitalized children. A stool sample obtained from each child was analyzed for the presence of astrovirus, calicivirus, rotavirus, adenovirus, enterovirus, and digestive bacteria. Of the 438 stool samples obtained, 138 tested positive for ≥1 pathogen during the winters of 1997-1998 and 1998-1999 (P<.001). Virologic tests revealed rotavirus in 17.3% of samples, calicivirus in 7.3%, astrovirus in 6.8%, adenovirus in 0.7%, and ≥ 1 virus in 5.4%. Median age was higher for patients with rotavirus gastroenteritis than it was for those with astrovirus or calicivirus gastroenteritis (P =.014). Mean duration of hospitalization was statistically significantly lower for children with rotavirus gastroenteritis (P =.022), despite the more-frequent dehydration observed among children with rotavirus versus those with astrovirus or calicivirus gastroenteritis (P =.007). In contrast, enteral rehydration was more rapidly achieved in patients with gastroenteritis due to rotavirus.