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Zainab Waggie, Anthony Hawkridge, Gregory D. Hussey, Review of Rotavirus Studies in Africa: 1976–2006, The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 202, Issue Supplement_1, September 2010, Pages S23–S33, https://doi.org/10.1086/653554
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Abstract
Background. Rotavirus is a common cause of severe diarrheal disease in children worldwide. Ninety percent of the associated deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia. Our aim was to review the prevalence of rotavirus infection in Africa over the past 30 years.
Methods. Eligible studies were identified from 3 Medline searches. Only studies including children <5 years of age that included >50 children and had an observational period >3 months were included. The data were analyzed during 3 periods (1976–1985, 1986–1995, and 1996–2006), as a summary (1976–2006), and by different study settings (ie, hospital, outpatient department, and combined).
Results. The initial search identified 206 studies from 27 countries during 1976–2006. The refined search yielded 101 studies, of which 58 (57%) were hospital based, 25 (25%) were outpatient studies, and 18 (18%) were combined. Rotavirus was detected in 25% (interquartile range, 16%–32%) of stool samples. Rotavirus was the most common agent identified in 73% of studies in which multiple diarrheal agents were determined.
Conclusion. Rotavirus is an important cause of severe diarrheal disease in children <5 years of age in Africa. Clinical trials in South Africa and Malawi have shown that severe rotavirus disease is a vaccine-preventable entity in Africa.
