Abstract

"Background: Rotavirus infections account every year in Chile, for approximately 53,000 emergency consultations and 8,000hospital admissions among children under three years of age. Aim: To estimate incidence rates of severe rotavirus gastroenteritis in children <3 years of age, living in the V and VIII Regions and to identify the predominant viral serotypes. Material and methods: A prospective hospital-based surveillance for severe gastroenteritis was implemented in public and private hospitals of Vi