Abstract

Background: Acute viral gastroenteritis is a major source of morbidity and mortality in young children. The purpose of the study was to investigate the frequency and cause of acute gastroenteritis in children admitted to the Ilam hospital in Iran. Materials and Methods: 103 children suffering from acute diarrhea suspected of viral infections were included. Stool samples were collected and the prevalence rate of common viruses such as Rotavirus, Norovirus G1/G11, Astrovirus, Sapovirus, Adenovirus (multiplex) Picornavirus, Picobirnavirus, Torovirus, Bocavirus, and Coronavirus was determined by multiplex PCR- based, and Monoplex assay. Results: The viruses that cause the symptoms, were detected in 37 out of the 103 cases, that 2 cases were found to be co-infection. Rotavirus was detected in 17/103 Norovirus, in 13/103, Astrovirus, in 4/103, and Adenovirus, in 3/103. The percentage of Norovirus genogroups 1 and 11 were 15.4 and 84.6, respectively. We could not detect any virus in winter. Conclusions: The viral etiology was confirmed in about one-third of the subjects. Rotavirus was the most frequently detected virus.