OUT-BREAK OF ACUTE GASTROENTERITIS DUE TO ROTAVIRUS IN AN INFANT HOME

Abstract

In Dec. 1976, an outbreak of acute infectious diarrhea occurred among infants who resided in an infant home in the city of Sapporo [Japan]. Rotavirus infection was proved in 42 (90%) of 47 infants by serologic and/or EM examinations. Of 42 infected infants, 38 (90%) were clinically affected, diarrhea with or without vomiting in 27 (64%), vomiting without diarrhea in 6 (14%) and only febrile episode in 5 (12%). The remaining 4 (10%) infants showed no symptoms. Clinical manifestations seemed to differ depending on age. Diarrhea without vomiting was more common in patients younger than 6 mo. of age, and vomiting or fever was more common in the older groups. Possible reasons for such an age dependency were discussed on the basis of complement fixation tests using human and calf strains of rotavirus.