Abstract

Background. Knowledge of the impact of rotavirus-associated disease on the health care systems of South America can aid in defining strategies for diagnosis, management and prevention. Up to date information on the impact of rotavirus disease in South America is scarce. Aim. To determine prospectively the impact of rotavirus disease as a cause of medical visits and hospitalizations at three large sentinel pediatric hospitals in Argentina, Chile and Venezuela. Methods. A 2-year prospective surveillance for rotavirus-associated medical visits and hospitalizations was conducted during 1997 through 1998 at three large sentinel public hospitals, one each in Argentina, Chile and Venezuela. A common surveillance protocol was implemented at the three sites, and a representative number of nonbloody diarrhea stool samples from children <36 months of age were tested for rotavirus by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. For our target age group, acute diarrhea-associated medical visits/hospitalizations represented 4%/2%, 5%/6% and 9%/13% of all medical visits/all hospitalizations at the Argentinean, Chilean and Venezuelan sites, respectively (P < 0.001 for difference among the three sites). Rotavirus detection rates among a total of 5801/1256 medical visit/hospitalization diarrhea stool samples tested were 39%/71% in Argentina, 34%/47% in Chile and 29%/38% in Venezuela (P < 0.01 by chi square for difference among the three sites). Rotavirus was associated with a mean of 1.5, 1.8 and 3% of total medical visits and 1.6, 2.8 and 5% of hospitalizations among children <36 months of age at the Argentinean, Chilean and Venezuelan sites, respectively. Seasonality was evident for medical visits at all three sites (although less striking in Chile) with peak activity occurring between November and May. Rotavirus.associated hospitalizations had a marked peak in Venezuela, represented largely by short stays, but not in Argentina and Chile. Conclusions. Rotavirus was a significant cause of medical visits at all three sentinel sites. Rotavirus caused less hospitalizations than previously reported in Argentina and Chile. On the basis of our findings we estimate that ?106 000/21 000, 48 000/8000 and 98 000/31 000 rotavirus-associated medical visits/hospitalizations occur yearly in Argentina, Chile and Venezuela, respectively.