[Hospitalizations associated with rotavirus gastroenteritis in Israel--a retrospective study].

Background: Rotavirus is a major cause of infantile gastroenteritis worldwide and remains a common cause of hospitalizations in developed countries. The study aimed to assess the hospitalizations due to rotavirus gastroenteritis in Israel and their characteristics.

Methods: A retrospective review of the records of children < 18 years hospitalized in six medical centers in Israel between April 2004 and March 2006 with acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and stool positive for rotavirus. Children with nosocomial infections, immune deficiency or under immunosuppressive therapy were excluded.

Results: During the study period, 1912 children were hospitalized with AGE due to rotavirus, of whom 1719 were included in this study. The peak rate of admission due to rotavirus was in November and December, when 34% of the admissions for AGE were caused by rotavirus, and the lowest rate was in August (7%, p < 0.0001). Annually, rotavirus caused 18.4% and 2.8% of the hospitalization for AGE and of all pediatric hospitalizations, respectively. The mean age on admission was 14 months (median 12 months) and the mean hospitalization--3.9 days. According to the annual pediatric statistics in Israel for 2004, the estimated annual rotavirus-associated hospitalization in Israel is 3816, with 14,692 hospitalization days.

Conclusions: Rotavirus gastroenteritis is an important cause for hospitalizations and complications in children < 5 years in Israel, stressing the need for safe and efficacious vaccines to reduce the burden of the infection.