Rotavirus Infection in a Neonatal Unit

The role of rotavirus as a cause of a mild diarrhoeal outbreak among newborns was studied in a small neonatal unit. Thirty-two newborns and 31 controls were tested with a new latex agglutination method (Rotalex) for detection of rotavirus antigen. Thirteen infants in the study group (41%) and one control (3%) excreted rotavirus antigen in their stools (p less than 0.005). The infection was usually mild or asymptomatic, but one critically ill premature infant had severe diarrhoeal symptoms requiring intravenous fluid replacement during antigen excretion. Spontaneous cessation of the epidemic took place when the number of infants at the ward was very small. This finding suggests that closure of a ward is useful for control of neonatal rotavirus infection.