In November 1977, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting rotavirus antigen was introduced in the laboratory of a rural treatment centre in Bangladesh. During the next 40 days rotavirus without other pathogens was found in the stools of 216 (45%) of 480 children under age 5 years who visited the centre with a gastrointestinal illness. 188 (87%) of these children were treated with oral rehydration alone, using the solution currently recommended by the World Health Organisation, while 28 (13%) also required some intravenous rehydration; there were no deaths. Oral rehydration treatment was judged successful in 205 (95%) of the rotavirus patients and was not associated with any serious side effects. Oral rehydration treatment, with this solution, has been used extensively and successfully in the treatment of enterotoxin-mediated diarrhoea and can also safely be used for treating rotavirus diarrhoea in infants and young children.
PIP: The outcome of a rehydration treatment used during a 40-day period at a WHO Center in Bangladesh on 216 children under age 5 is reported. In addition, an enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA) designed to detect rotavirus in stool specimens is described and its application explained. The ELISA assay was adaptable to use in a rural treatment center. In a 40-day period, using the new virus-detecting assay, rotavirus without other pathogens was found in stools of 216 (45%) of 480 children who attended the center with gastrointestinal illness. Of these 216 children with only rotavirus pathogen, 188 were treated with oral rehydration alone (oral glucose solution prepared according to WHO procedures); 28 required additional intravenous rehydration therapy. No deaths occurred. 95% of the cases were judged successful on oral rehydration alone for gastrointestinal effects of rotavirus infection. No serious side effects were reported. This oral glucose solution is now indcated in E. coli (enter otoxin)-mediated diarrhea as well as in rotavirus-induced diarrhea.