How much trouble rotavirus and adenovirus cause in patients with acute gastroenteritis?: four-year results

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate rotavirus and adenovirus antigens in stool samples of patients who were admitted to the hospital with a preliminary diagnosis of acute gastroenteritis and to determine their distribution by sex, age and seasons. Methods: A total 6525 and 6242 stool samples of patients with acute gastroenteritis, that were sent to Microbiology Laboratory between January 2014 and December 2017 were examined for rotavirus and adenovirus, respectively. Rotavirus group A and adenovirus serotype 40 and 41 antigens were investigated by rapid immunochromatographic test. Results: In 438 (6.7%) of the samples rotavirus antigens and in 80 (1.3%) of them adenovirus antigens were detected. The percentages of male patients in rotavirus-and adenovirus-detected samples were 55% (n=240) and 62.5% (n=50), respectively. Rotavirus positivity was found to be highest in patients aged 13-24 months and adenovirus in patients aged 0-12 months (p<0.05). Rotavirus antigen positivity was observed to be the highest in spring and winter while adenovirus antigen positivity was observed to be the highest in summer and autumn (p<0.001). Conclusions: According to this study, viral gastroenteritis agents were observed more frequently in 0-2 year-old children. Especially in spring, the disease was found to be more common. We are of the opinion that detection of viral agents in patients with acute gastroenteritis will provide both early diagnosis and symptomatic treatment and prevent unnecessary use of empirical antibiotics.