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Article: The incidence and clinical presentation of infantile rotavirus diarrhoea in Sierra Leone.(Original Articles)(Report)
- Article from:
- South African Medical Journal
- Article date:
- April 1, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 South African Medical Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Rotaviruses occur widely among humans and many animal species throughout the world, and are important causes of gastroenteritis. Since their discovery over 30 years ago human rotaviruses have been shown to be the major cause of paediatric diarrhoeal disease morbidity and mortality. (1)
The virus will have infected some 90% of children by the age of 3 and practically all children by the age of 5, (2) and accounts for approximately 600 000 deaths worldwide every year. (3) The incidence of rotavirus disease in children is similar in developed and developing countries, but mortality from diarrhoeal disease is higher in the latter, predominantly owing to poor ...