Rotavirus and Non-Bacterial Infantile Gastroenteritis in Kuwait

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Al-Nakib W [Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kuwait, PO Box 24923 Safat, Kuwait, Arabian Gulf] Chrystie I L, Banatvala J E and Al-Sayegh F. Rotavirut and non-bacterial infantile gaitroenteritis in Kuwait. International Journal of Epidemiology 1980, 9: 355–359. The role of rotavirut in non-bacterial gastroenteritis in Kuwait was investigated. Employing electronmicroscopy (EM) and enzyme-linked-immuno-iorbent-assay (ELISA) techniques, the virus was detected in the stools of 42 of 274 (15.3%) infants with the disease. A statistically significant association (P<0.05) was found between virus excretion and age since 37 of 42 (88.1%) of rotavirut positive cases were aged 2–12 months. 57.1% of all rota-viruses detected were among specimens collected during the first 3 days since onset of clinical symptoms. In addition a highly significant relationship (P<0.01) was found between virus excretion and seasonal variation since highest virus excretion rates (76.1%) were detected in specimens collected during the autumn and early winter months, and coincided with the annual gastroenteritis season in Kuwait. Diarrhoea and vomiting were the most frequently encountered clinical symptoms being present in 92.9% and 76.2% of all rotavirus positive patients, respectively.