Multicenter prospective study of the burden of rotavirus acute gastroenteritis in Europe, 2004-2005: The REVEAL study

Rotavirus is recognized as a significant cause of pediatric gastroenteritis worldwide. Comprehensive data on the burden of rotavirus disease in Europe were lacking.A prospective, multicenter, observational study was conducted during the 2004-2005 season in selected areas of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, to estimate the incidence of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) in children5 years of age who require medical care in primary care, emergency department, and hospital settings.A total of 2846 children with AGE were included in the study, and, of the 2712 children for whom ELISA results were available, 1102 (40.6%) were found to be rotavirus positive. The estimated annual incidence of RVGE was 2.07-4.97 cases/100 children5 years of age, and it was highest among children 6-23 months of age, with 56.7%-74.2% of all RVGE cases occurring in children in this age group. Overall, RVGE was estimated to account for 27.8%-52.0% of AGE cases, and it was responsible for up to two-thirds of hospitalizations and emergency department consultations, as well as one-third of primary care consultations for AGE.Rotavirus infections account for a significant proportion of AGE cases in children5 years of age in Europe, many of whom require frequent primary care consultations or care in emergency department and/or hospital settings. The results of the present study suggest that routine rotavirus vaccination for infants6 months of age could significantly reduce the substantial burden of this potentially serious childhood disease.