Population-based epidemiology of rotavirus hospitalisations in Switzerland

Bucher, Barbara; Aebi, Christoph (2006). Population-based epidemiology of rotavirus hospitalisations in Switzerland. Swiss medical weekly, 136(45-46), pp. 726-31. Muttenz: EMH Schweizerischer Ärzteverlag

Full text not available from this repository.

BACKGROUND: Rotaviruses (RV) are the most common cause of dehydrating gastroenteritis requiring hospitalisation in children <5 years of age. A new generation of safe and effective RV vaccines is available. Accurate data describing the current burden of RV disease in the community are needed to devise appropriate strategies for vaccine usage. METHODS: Retrospective, population-based analysis of RV hospitalisations in children <5 years of age during a 5-year period (1999-2003) in a both urban and rural area inhabited by 12% of the Swiss population. RESULTS: Of 406 evaluable cases, 328 were community-acquired RV infections in children <5 years of age. RV accounted for 38% of all hospitalisations for gastroenteritis. The overall hospitalisation incidence in the <5-year-old was 1.5/1000 child-years (peak incidence, 2.6/1000 child-years in children aged 13-24 months). The incidence of community-acquired RV hospitalisations was significantly greater in children of non-Swiss origin (3.0 vs. 1.1/1000 child-years, relative risk 2.7; 95% CI 2.2-3.4), who were younger, but tended to be less severely dehydrated on admission than Swiss children. In comparison with children from urban areas, RV hospitalisation incidence was significantly lower among those residing in the remote mountain area (0.71 vs. 1.71/1000 child years, relative risk 2.2, 95% CI 1.6-3.1). CONCLUSION: Population-based RV hospitalisation incidence was low in comparison with other European countries. Significantly greater hospitalisation rates among children living in urban areas and those from non-Swiss families indicate that factors other than the severity of RV-induced dehydration are important driving forces of hospital admission.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Endocrinology (DFKE) > Clinic of Paediatric Medicine
UniBE Contributor:	Aebi, Christoph
ISSN:	1424-7860
ISBN:	17205664
Publisher:	EMH Schweizerischer Ärzteverlag
Language:	English
Submitter:	Anette van Dorland
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 14:48
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:14
PubMed ID:	17205664
Web of Science ID:	000243057600003
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/19996 (FactScience: 3075)