ROTAVIRUS INFECTION IN CHILDREN WITH ACUTE DIARRHEA IN TEHRAN

The etiology of acute diarrhea was studied in 915 children under 5 years of age between March 1986 and August 1987, in 7 hospitals in Tehran. 65 healthy children in similar age groups served as controls. Rotavirus was found in 25% of the patients and 1.5% of controls with the highest detection rate occurring in the 7-24 month age group (28%) and declining beyond 25 months of age (5%). The infection rate was also high (19%) in the first 6 months of life and breast feeding was not protective. The rate of rotavirus infection was highest during the months of April and May (30% and 37% respectively) and lowest during December and January (7%).