Background. - To delineate the epidemiology of acute illnesses of the gastro-enteric tract in the Salento, with particular reference to infections sustained by rotaviruses. Methods. - The study lasted a year and included the gathering of data on hospitalisations for enteritis caused by rotaviruses in the Paediatric wards of seven Hospitals in the Province of Lecce. Results. - During 2004, 7938 children were hospitalised; 973 of them had gastro-enteric symptoms and 202 patients were positive for rotavirus. The percentage of admissions to hospital was high in Autumn and at the beginning of Spring. The highest incidence of the disease was observed in children aged between 1 and two years, especially males. The morbidity of diarrhoea caused by rotavirus followed a seasonal pattern and a distribution in terms of age group and sex that were in line with what has been seen in other geographical areas. Conclusion. - On the basis of the data gathered in this study, the cases of acute gastroenteritis seem to represent an important cause of hospitalisation in the Salento.
The epidemiology and disease burden of rotavirus infection in the Salento peninsula, Italy
GABUTTI, Giovanni;
2008
Abstract
Background. - To delineate the epidemiology of acute illnesses of the gastro-enteric tract in the Salento, with particular reference to infections sustained by rotaviruses. Methods. - The study lasted a year and included the gathering of data on hospitalisations for enteritis caused by rotaviruses in the Paediatric wards of seven Hospitals in the Province of Lecce. Results. - During 2004, 7938 children were hospitalised; 973 of them had gastro-enteric symptoms and 202 patients were positive for rotavirus. The percentage of admissions to hospital was high in Autumn and at the beginning of Spring. The highest incidence of the disease was observed in children aged between 1 and two years, especially males. The morbidity of diarrhoea caused by rotavirus followed a seasonal pattern and a distribution in terms of age group and sex that were in line with what has been seen in other geographical areas. Conclusion. - On the basis of the data gathered in this study, the cases of acute gastroenteritis seem to represent an important cause of hospitalisation in the Salento.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.