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Review
. 2011 Jan 7:11:9.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-11-9.

Burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis in the Middle Eastern and North African pediatric population

Hanane Khoury  1 , Isla Ogilvie, Antoine C El Khoury, Yinghui Duan, Mireille M Goetghebeur
Affiliations
Review

Burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis in the Middle Eastern and North African pediatric population

Hanane Khoury et al. BMC Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) is the most common cause of severe childhood diarrhea worldwide. Objectives were to estimate the burden of RVGE among children less than five years old in the Middle East (Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE, Yemen), North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia) and Turkey.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in major databases on the epidemiology and burden of rotavirus among children less than five years old between 1999 and 2009. Data from each country was extracted and compared.

Results: The search identified 43 studies. RVGE was identified in 16-61% of all cases of acute gastroenteritis, with a peak in the winter. RVGE-related hospitalization rates ranged from 14% to 45%, compared to 14%-28% for non-RVGE. Annually, RVGE caused up to 112 fatalities per 100,000 in certain countries in the region. Hospitalization costs ranged from $1.8 to $4.6 million annually, depending on the country. The most recent literature available showed that G1P[8] was the most prevalent genotype combination in 8 countries (range 23%-56%). G2P[4] was most prevalent in 4 countries (26%-48%). G9P[8] and G4P[8] were also frequently detected.

Conclusions: RVGE is a common disease associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and economic burden. Given the variety and diverse rotavirus types in the region, use of a vaccine with broad and consistent serotype coverage would be important to help decrease the burden of RVGE in the Middle East and North Africa.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart representing the selection of relevant citations
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean overall proportion of rotavirus gastroenteritis (% of reported acute gastroenteritis cases) by country
Figure 3
Figure 3
Proportion of rotavirus gastroenteritis (% of reported acute gastroenteritis cases) by country and year of study. Dates refer to when studies were conducted.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Distribution of rotaviral genotype combinations in the Middle East and North Africa by country, most recent literature available. NB: "Other" includes the proportion of rare and mixed genotype combinations, and non- or partially-typable serotypes.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Distribution of rotaviral genotype combinations in the Middle East and North Africa over time, from recent literature. NB: "Other" includes the proportion of rare and mixed genotype combinations, and non- or partially typable serotypes.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Mortality due to rotavirus in the Middle East and North Africa by country
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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