• The Pediatric Rotavirus Epidemiology Study for Immunization (PRESI) study was a prospective study investigating the prevalence of rotavirus in children receiving intravenous (IV) and oral hydration for diarrhea in the following settings:¹⁶
  • Emergency departments
  • Pediatric practices
  • Child-care centers
• Rotavirus infection was most common between March and May¹⁶
• During April and May, it accounted for more than 60% of diarrhea in children aged 6-36 months tested in pediatric practices¹⁶

Adapted from Waters V et al³⁴

Prospective study was conduced in the greater Toronto/Peel region and examined the etiology of viral gastroenteritis infections over an 8-month period. Children presenting with symptoms of acute diarrhea between November 1997 and June 1998 were enrolled from sites that included hospitals, their emergency departments, pediatric practices and child-care centers. 1386 children were tested for rotavirus.

Health-care Utilization by Setting in Ontario

• Rotavirus is a major cause of increased healthcare utilization in children¹⁶
• Approximately 1 in 4 children with rotavirus in pediatric practices and in child-care centers required either emergency department care or hospitalization¹⁶

Adapted from Ford-Jones EL et al¹⁶

Hospitalizations due to Rotavirus in Ontario (PRESI study)

• The PRESI study examined 372 children hospitalized for rotavirus between November 1, 1997 and June 30, 1998¹⁶
• During April and May, rotavirus accounted for up to 77% of diarrhea in hospitalized children younger than 36 months¹⁶
• 75% of hospitalized patients were aged 6-35 months¹⁶
• The majority of patients with rotavirus-associated diarrhea presented with vomiting and fever¹⁶

Symptoms of hospitalized patients with
rotavirus-associated diarrhea

Adapted from Ford-Jones EL et al¹⁶

Rotavirus Hospitalizations in Quebec

• Stool samples were tested for rotavirus in 565 children <5 years of age hospitalized for gastroenteritis between December 1999 and May 2000 in seven community and specialized hospitals in Quebec¹

Adapted from Rivest P et al¹

• The highest rate of rotavirus-positive patients was among 1-year-old children (81.6%), and the rate decreased with age to 61.5% in 4-year-olds¹
• From December to April, the proportion of rotavirus-positive results increased from 51.6-78.1%¹