Acute diarrhoea associated with rotavirus among children living in Belém, Brazil

Abstract

Between January 1979 and December 1980, rotaviruses were detected in faecal samples from 122 (33.1 percent) of 369 diarrhoeic children less than six years old, living in Belém, Brazil. In 55 (45.1 percent) of the 122 rotavirus-positive specimens, no bacteria or parasite associated with gastro-enteritis was found. Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella and Escherichia coli were found in 92 (35 percent) of the 263 faecal specimens examined for bacterial pathogens. Rotaviruses were readily detected throughout the year, which may indicate no seasonal pattern of incidence in the Belém region. A comparison of the excretion of rotavirus was made between children of two socio-economic groups. Of 144 children from the higher level group, 63 (47.3 percent) excreted rotavirus, whereas only 12 (16.7 percent) of those from the lower level did so. Vomiting (68.0 percent) and fever (65.6 percent) were the main symptoms, other than diarrhoea, exhibited by the 122 rotavirus-positive children.