Evaluation of Rotavirus Antigen Positivity in Childhood Gastroenteritis

Objective: This study aims at evaluating the distribution of antigen positivity and retrospective correlation with demographic data in stool specimens which were sent to the laboratory for rotavirus antigen testing from patients with gastroenteritis between January 2006 and December 2009. Methods: Group A virus antigen was examined with the immunochromatographic test (RIDA Quick Rotavirus, R-Biopharm, Germany) in stool specimens according to the recommendations of the manufacturer. Results: Ages of the 302 patients were between 0-14 years and the average age was 3.4 years. Rotavirus antigen was most frequently found in 0-2 age groups (n=163, 54%). Of 302 patients tested, 134 (44%) were female and 168 (56%) were male. Request for rotavirus screening was highest in winter, especially in December. Of 302 stool samples, 75 (25%) were identified as positive for rotavirus antigen. Conclusions: The results of our retrospective study show that rotavirus, which is the most common cause of childhood diarrhea, should be examined in all the stages of childhood. Furthermore, rotavirus data from Istanbul, a socioeconomically improved metropol, are similar to the data of the other regions of Turkey.