VIRAL GASTROENTERITIS IN CHILDREN

Abstract

Stool samples of 218 hospitalised diarrhoeic children were examined for the presence of virus, by two commercial Immunoassays (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbont Assay {ELISA} and Latex Agglutination (LA) for rotavirus), and Electron Microscopy (EM). Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of viral RNA was done for rotavirus positive samples. Of these 24.3 % had viral pathogens (22.9% rotavirus and 1.4% adenovirus), 26.6% had bacterial pathogens (results obtained from the hospital microbiology laboratories), 4.1% had both viral and bacterial pathogens, and 45% had no pathogens in their stools. ELISA was able to detect viral antigens much later in the course of the disease, compared to LA, EM and PAGE. Comparing patients who had viral pathogens in their stools with those who had no pathogens, a significantly larger proportion of the former were tested within the first three days of diarrhoea onset, showing the importance of early testing of stools. Gastroenteritis showed a higher incidence in children between 6 to 18 months of age more males being affected. In viral infection, stools were watery with little or no blood or mucous, with a higher incidence of vomiting, fever and dehydration than in the other types of Gastroenteritis.