[Burden of hospitalizations attributable to rotavirus infection in children in the Autonomous Region of Madrid, Spain, period 1999-2000]

Abstract

Objective: To assess rotavirus infection requiring hospitalization in children aged < or = 5 years between 1999 and 2000 in the Autonomous Region of Madrid (Spain).

Material and method: A retrospective study was conducted, based on the hospital data surveillance system (Conjunto Mínimo Básico de Datos [CMBD]) and on the Spanish national microbiological information system (Sistema de Información Microbiológica [SIM]). CMBD data for all hospital admissions in children aged < or = 5 years with a first-listed diagnosis of intestinal infectious disease (ICD-9-CM codes: 001-009) or non-infective gastroenteritis (ICD-9-CM code: 558) and the reports to the SIM of the major pathogen groups responsible for acute gastroenteritis were analyzed.

Results: The annual incidence of hospitalizations for acute gastroenteritis was 69 cases per 10,000 children aged < or = 5 years. Fourteen percent of the 32,541 infections produced by pathogens responsible for acute gastroenteritis reported to the SIM were rotavirus. The estimated annual incidence of hospitalizations due to rotavirus infections was 12 cases per 10,000 children aged (3/4) 5 years. The mean length of stay was 4.0 days, the annual mean number of days of hospitalization was 1,382 days, and the annual cost was 565,907 J. During the rotavirus epidemic months (December and January), the percentage of excess hospitalizations was 67 %.

Conclusions: Rotavirus causes a significant proportion of hospital admissions due to acute gastroenteritis in children aged < or = 5 years in the Autonomous Region of Madrid.