This study was conducted on 320 infants suffered from gastroenteritis and 80 healthy control subjects to determine the virus infection diversity (rota, adeno and astrovirus enteric infections) in infants admitted to Pediatric Department of Benha University Hospital during the period from November 2002 to July 2003. The patients were 116 (36.25%) males and 204 (63.75%) females; their age ranged from 35 days-24months. The control group included 20 (25% males and 60 (75%) females; their age ranged from 2-24 months. Adeno and rotavirus antigens were detected in stool samples by latex agglutination slide test while astrovirus antigen was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Out of 320 patients rotavirus was detected in 68 (21.25%), astrovirus in 16 (5%) and adenovirus in 12 (3.75%) cases. The control subjects were negative for these viral infections. Also it was found that one virus only can be detected in stool samples of viral gastroenteritis cases. Adenovirus infection was detected from February to April, astrovirus from November to July and rotavirus from April to July. There are high significant statistical values in the relations of these viral infections with each of age and sex of infected cases. As regards to the relations between the studied viruses and the different types of feeding in the infected cases there is a high significant statistical difference with breast feeding, significant value with artificial feeding and insignificant value with each of supplemented and weaned food. There are high significant statistical differences in the relations of the studied viruses with fever, different degrees of dehydration and duration of diarrhea and significant statistical value with vomiting. In conclusion: rotavirus is the most common agent in viral infantile diarrhea followed by astro and adenoviruses in our locality, more studies are needed to find out vaccines that can prevent the spread of these viral infections. |
