Detection of sporadic cases of Norovirus infection in hospitalized children in Italy.

Abstract

This study was performed to investigate the role of Noroviruses (NV) in sporadic cases of acute diarrhoea among hospitalized children in Brescia Hospital. NV were the most frequently involved viruses (23.7%) and were more common in children >5 years (23/63) than in children <5 years (6/59). The majority of the NV-positive specimens belonged to genotype II (GII). The frequency of rotavirus, enteric adenovirus and astrovirus was 12.2%, 1.6% and 2.4%, respectively. Results obtained confirm the relevance of NV as a causative agent of pediatric diarrhoea and highlight the need for continued surveillance of NV to prevent and control virus spreading.