ROTAVIRUS AND ACUTE DIARRHEAL DISEASE IN CHILDREN IN A SOUTHERN INDIAN COASTAL TOWN

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 60 (1), 123-127
Abstract
Rotavirus was found by EM in the stools of 70.7% of a representative sample (368) of the 3355 children with acute diarrhea admitted to hospital over a period of 16 mo. in Calicut on the west coast of India. The prevalence of the virus was high (nearly 100% of cases examined) in the period from Nov.-Jan., and lowest in May just before the onset of the monsoon. Prevalence was high (75.1%) in infants aged from 6-23 mo., but was considerably lower in those < 6 mo. of age (34.8%). The management of cases and the planning of control measures for this disease are discussed in the light of knowledge of the high prevalence of rotavirus.