Nosocomial diarrhea in children: is astrovirus the leading pathogen?

AbstractObjectiveTo screen for the presence of mixed infection with rotavirus.MethodsThe present study included 140 children aged less than 2 years with acute diarrhea. Fecal samples of all these patients were analyzed for the presence of astroviral antigen by enzyme immunoassay. Also 40 rotavirus positive fecal samples were screened for the presence of astrovirus.ResultsIn case of acute diarrhea in children the prevalence of astrovirus was around 34% (48/140). It was seen that even in rotavirus positive cases astrovirus co infection was 25%.ConclusionsAstrovirus is a growing problem which is often underrecognised. With the rotavirus vaccine licensure being imminent astrovirus will emerge out as the single most important cause of viral diarrhe