OBJECTIVETo learn the epidemiologic characteristics of rotavirus diarrhea in three hospitals under sentinel surveillance from August 2001 to July 2004 and to provide background information for developing and implementing rotavirus vaccine.

METHODSData from hospital-based rotavirus surveillance among children < 5 years old hospitalized with acute diarrhea was used. Patients' clinic information and feces specimens were collected. Specimens were tested and typed for rotavirus.

RESULTSTotally, 3121 specimens were tested and the detection rate of rotavirus was 51%. Among all the children with rotavirus diarrhea, 94% were < 2 years old. G3 (69.9%) was the most prevalent serotype followed by G1 (6.6%) and G2 (2.9%). P[8] was the most common genotype of rotavirus. The most common G-P combination identified in this study was P[8] G3 (64.0%). Seveal other combinations of minor frequency were also identified.

CONCLUSIONRotavirus infection was most commonly seen among children < 5 years old hospitalized with acute diarrhea in the three hospitals. It is important to develop and implement rotavirus vaccine to prevent and control severe rotavirus infection. Because of the diversity of rotavirus strains, it is necessary to perform rotavirus strain surveillance to understand the dynamic nature of viral transmission.