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Objective. To assess the disease burden of rotavirus diarrhea in Peru as well the need for and the potential cost savings with a rotavirus vaccine in that country. Methods. To assess the burden of rotavirus diarrhea in Peru, we reviewed published and unpublished reports where rotavirus was sought as the etiologic agent of diarrhea in children. Rotavirus detection rates obtained from these studies were combined with diarrhea incidence rates from a number of national surveys in order to estimate both the burden of rotavirus diarrhea in the country and its associated medical costs. Results. Rotavirus is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Peruvian children. In their first 5 years of life, an estimated 1 in 1.6 children will experience an episode of rotavirus diarrhea, 1 in 9.4 will seek medical care, 1 in 19.7 will require hospitalization, and 1 in 375 will die of the disease. Per year, this represents approximately 384 000 cases, 64 000 clinic visits, 30 000 hospitalizations, and 1 600 deaths. The annual cost of medical care alone for these children is approximately US$ 2.6 million--and that does not take into account the indirect or societal costs of the illness and the deaths. Conclusions. Rotavirus immunization provides the prospect of decreasing the morbidity and mortality from diarrhea in Peru, but a vaccine regimen would have to be relatively inexpensive, a few dollars or less per child. Future cost-effectiveness analyses should explore the total costs (medical as well as indirect or societal) associated with rotavirus diarrhea. Newly licensed vaccines should be tested according to both their ability to avert deaths and their efficacy with fewer than three doses. All three of these factors could increase the cost savings associated with a rotavirus vaccine.Objetivos. Evaluar la carga de morbilidad de la diarrea por rotavirus en Perú, la necesidad de una vacuna y el ahorro que esta podría proporcionar en este país. Métodos. Para evaluar la carga de morbilidad de la diarrea por rotavirus en Perú, se revisaron los estudios publicados y no publicados sobre los rotavirus como causa de diarrea en niños. Las tasas de detección de rotavirus en estos estudios se combinaron con las tasas de incidencia de diarrea procedentes de varias encuestas nacionales, con el fin de estimar tanto la carga de morbilidad de la diarrea por rotavirus como sus costos médicos. Resultados. Los rotavirus son una importante causa de morbilidad y mortalidad en los niños peruanos. Se estima que, en sus primeros 5 años de vida, 1 de cada 1,6 niños sufre un episodio de diarrea por rotavirus, que 1 de cada 9,4 busca atención médica, que 1 de cada 19,7 necesita ser hospitalizado y que 1 de cada 375 muere por esta causa. Cada año, esto representa aproximadamente 384 000 casos, 64 000 consultas, 30 000 hospitalizaciones y 1 600 muertes. El costo anual únicamente de la atención médica de estos niños es de aproximadamente 2,6 millones de dólares estadounidenses, sin tener en cuenta los costos indirectos o sociales de la enfermedad y las muertes. Conclusiones. La vacunación contra los rotavirus permite albergar la esperanza de reducir la morbilidad y mortalidad de la diarrea en Perú, pero el régimen de vacunación debería ser relativamente barato (unos pocos dólares por niño). En el futuro, los análisis de costo-efectividad deberían investigar los costos totales (tanto los médicos como los indirectos o sociales) de la diarrea por rotavirus, y las vacunas que se aprueben deberían ser probadas en lo que se refiere tanto a su capacidad para evitar las muertes como a su eficacia con menos de tres dosis. Estos tres factores podrían incrementar el ahorro proporcionado por la vacuna contra los rotavirus.

Objective. To assess the disease burden of rotavirus diarrhea in Peru as well the need for and the potential cost savings with a rotavirus vaccine in that country. Methods. To assess the burden of rotavirus diarrhea in Peru, we reviewed published and unpublished reports where rotavirus was sought as the etiologic agent of diarrhea in children. Rotavirus detection rates obtained from these studies were combined with diarrhea incidence rates from a number of national surveys in order to estimate both the burden of rotavirus diarrhea in the country and its associated medical costs. Results. Rotavirus is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Peruvian children. In their first 5 years of life, an estimated 1 in 1.6 children will experience an episode of rotavirus diarrhea, 1 in 9.4 will seek medical care, 1 in 19.7 will require hospitalization, and 1 in 375 will die of the disease. Per year, this represents approximately 384 000 cases, 64 000 clinic visits, 30 000 hospitalizations, and 1 600 deaths. The annual cost of medical care alone for these children is approximately US$ 2.6 million--and that does not take into account the indirect or societal costs of the illness and the deaths. Conclusions. Rotavirus immunization provides the prospect of decreasing the morbidity and mortality from diarrhea in Peru, but a vaccine regimen would have to be relatively inexpensive, a few dollars or less per child. Future cost-effectiveness analyses should explore the total costs (medical as well as indirect or societal) associated with rotavirus diarrhea. Newly licensed vaccines should be tested according to both their ability to avert deaths and their efficacy with fewer than three doses. All three of these factors could increase the cost savings associated with a rotavirus vaccine.