Prevalencia de gastroenteritis virales en pacientes pediátricos de 6 meses a 12 años que fueron hospitalizados en el Hospital Alcívar durante el periodo 2021-2023.

Abstract

Introduction: Infectious gastroenteritis is one of the most common diseases in children and accounts for 10% of pediatric deaths worldwide. It has various causes, being viruses, such as rotavirus and norovirus, the most frequent. It manifests with increased stool frequency or diarrhea, with or without vomiting, fever and abdominal pain. Although it is usually self-limiting in developed countries, in developing countries it is still an important cause of death, especially in infants. The objective of this research was to measure the prevalence of viral gastroenteritis in pediatric patients aged 6 months to 12 years who were hospitalized at Hospital Alcívar during the period 2021-2023. Methodology: This observational, retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at Hospital Alcívar between 2021 and 2023, analyzing clinical records to establish a database. Results: 127 patients were included in the study, the prevalence of viral gastroenteritis was 85%, with rotavirus being the most common agent (65.7%). Most patients were preschoolers (39.8%) and male (52.8%). The most frequent complications were dehydration in both viruses (70% in adenovirus and 71.8% in rotavirus). Conclusion: Acute gastroenteritis of viral etiology predominated in the pediatric population, especially in children under two years of age and males. Rotavirus was the most frequent microorganism and dehydration the most common complication.