Rotavirus surveillance to determine disease burden and epidemiology in Java, Indonesia, August 2001 through April 2004

This study estimates rotavirus disease burden in children under age 3 years presenting with acute gastroenteritis to hospitals in Purworejo district and Yogyakarta city from August 2001 to April 2004. Among a total of 8929 hospitalized children, 1397 (16%) presented with acute gastroenteritis and of the 1321 stool samples tested, 705 (53%) were positive for rotavirus. Rotavirus infections were most common among children aged 7–23 months and rotavirus was more common during the dry season (June through August). Logistic regression analysis showed no differences in socioeconomic indicators between the rotavirus positive and negative admissions. Rotavirus vaccination may prevent a large proportion of all hospitalizations of young children under 3 years of age presenting with acute gastroenteritis.