Asymptomatic Rotavirus infection

Rotavirus is a major cause of diarrhea-associated morbidity and

mortality worldwide (Parashar UD et al.,2006.). The majority of
children experience rotavirus-associated infectious intestinal
disease (IID) by the age of 5 years (Cox MJ et al., 1998).
Immunity developed after the primary and secondary
infections is generally protective against disease, although
further infections frequently occur, typically without any IID
symptoms (Vela´zquez FR et al.,1996.). A substantial prevalence
of rotavirus infection without IID has been reported in the
general population, in both children (Abiodun Po et al.,1985)
and adults (Amar CF et al., 1993_1996.), ranging from 3% to
31%, depending on the setting and the age of the study
population. These infections are classified as asymptomatic by
the absence of diarrhea or vomiting, but infected persons may
still display nonspecific symptoms such as fever, headache,
nausea, and, fatigue.( Anderson EJ et al .,2004.). These
infections are hereafter referred to as ‘‘asymptomatic rotavirus
infections.”

Risk factors for rotavirus-associated IID have been extensively

investigated (Karsten C et al.,2009.), but few researchers have
described risk factors for asymptomatic rotavirus infection.
Household contact tracing studies have demonstrated
asymptomatic infections, in both children and adults, following
introduction of a symptomatic child index case into a
household (Grimwood K et al.,1983.). A cohort study of day-
care centers in North America showed that one-third of
children aged 2 years or less experience asymptomatic
rotavirus infection each year in this setting ( Bartlett AV III et
al.,1988.).

Rotaviruses are a leading cause of diarrhea in children (Davidson

et al.,1975.). It is estimated that up to 1010 particles per gram of
feces may be shed by children with diarrhea, and shedding may
also occur in young children without diarrhea (Melnick et
al.,1989.). However, most studies of rotavirus infections have
dealt with children admitted to a hospital because of diarrhea.
To understand more about these infections, it is necessary to
know the frequency of asymptomatic rotavirus infections in
healthy children and under their natural living conditions. The
present study was carried out with children in four day care
centers of Instituto Politecnico Nacional in Mexico City from July
to December 1982 and from July 1983 to February 1984.
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