INTRODUCTION: Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in children under five years of age. Among viral pathogens, rotavirus and adenovirus are the leading causes of both endemic and epidemic AGE worldwide. This study aims to investigate the positivity rate of rotavirus and adenovirus among gastroenteritis-suspected patients in Istanbul, focusing on demographic factors and seasonal distribution.
METHODS: Between May 1, 2020, and May 1, 2023, stool samples from 16,064 patients who presented to XXXXX(Hospital name) Hospital in Istanbul were retrospectively evaluated. Rotavirus and adenovirus antigens were analyzed using two different immunochromatographic rapid tests employed during the study period: the CerTest® RotaAdeno Card Test (CerTest Biotec, Spain) and the Rotavirus Adenovirus Rapid Antigen Test (Türklab, Turkey). Patients were categorized by age groups (0–12, 13–36, 37–60 months, 6–18 years, and >18 years), gender, and seasons. Statistical analyses were conducted using Chi-square and Z-tests, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: A total of 2,270 (14.1%) patients tested positive for rotavirus, and 595 (3.7%) tested positive for adenovirus. The highest positivity rate of rotavirus occurred in the 13–36 months age group (20.3%), while adenovirus was most common in the 37–60 months age group (4.8%) (p<0.001). When the positivity rates between genders were examined, no significant difference was found (rotavirus: female and male 14.1%; adenovirus: female 3.9%, male 3.5%; p>0.05). Rotavirus infections peaked in spring and summer (14.7%-14.5%), whereas adenovirus infections peaked in autumn (4.5%) (p<0.05). The co-infection rate was 0.58% (n=93).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Rotavirus has become a more dominant pathogen causing AGE than adenovirus. Both viruses showed high levels of positivity, especially in early childhood. The seasonal patterns indicate that rotavirus peaks in spring and summer, while adenovirus sees an increase in autumn. These insights are crucial for developing targeted preventive measures for managing AGE in specific age groups.

Akut Gastroenteritli Hastalarda Rotavirüs ve Adenovirüs Pozitiflik Oraný: Yaþ, Mevsim ve Cinsiyete Dayalý Üç Yýllýk Bir Analiz

GÝRÝÞ ve AMAÇ: Giriþ
Akut gastroenterit (AGE), özellikle 5 yaþ altý çocuklarda morbidite ve mortalitenin önemli nedenlerindendir. Viral etkenlerden rotavirüs ve adenovirüs, dünya çapýnda endemik ve epidemik AGE’lerin baþlýca patojenleridir. Bu çalýþma, Ýstanbul’da gastroenterit ön tanýlý hastalarda rotavirüs ve adenovirüs sýklýðýný, demografik ve mevsimsel daðýlýmýný incelemeyi amaçlamýþtýr.

YÖNTEM ve GEREÇLER: 1 Mayýs 2020–1 Mayýs 2023 tarihleri arasýnda XXXX Hastanesi’ne baþvuran 16.064 hastanýn dýþký örneði retrospektif olarak deðerlendirilmiþtir. Rotavirüs ve adenovirüs antijenleri, çalýþma döneminde kullanýlan iki farklý immünokromatografik hýzlý test ile analiz edilmiþtir: CerTest® RotaAdeno Card Test (CerTest Biotec, Ýspanya) ve Rotavirüs Adenovirüs Hýzlý Antijen Testi (Türklab, Türkiye). Hastalar yaþ (0–12 ay, 13–36 ay, 37–60 ay, 6–18 yaþ ve >18 yaþ), cinsiyet ve mevsimlere göre gruplandýrýlmýþtýr. Ýstatistiksel analizler Ki-kare ve z-testi ile yapýlmýþ, p<0.05 anlamlý kabul edilmiþtir.
BULGULAR: Toplam 2.270 (%14,1) rotavirüs ve 595 (%3,7) adenovirüs pozitifliði tespit edilmiþtir. Rotavirüs en sýk 13-36 ay grubunda (%20,3), adenovirüs ise 37-60 ay grubunda (%4,8) saptanmýþtýr (p<0,001). Cinsiyetler arasýnda anlamlý fark saptanmamýþtýr (rotavirüs: kadýn/erkek %14,1; adenovirüs: kadýn %3,9, erkek %3,5; p>0,05). Rotavirüs ilkbahar-yaz aylarýnda (%14,7-14,5), adenovirüs ise sonbaharda (%4,5) pik yapmýþtýr (p<0,05). Ko-enfeksiyon oraný %0,58 olarak saptanmýþtýr (n=93).
TARTIÞMA ve SONUÇ: Çalýþmamýzda rotavirüsün, adenovirüse kýyasla AGE’de daha baskýn bir etken olduðu belirlenmiþtir. Her iki patojenin de özellikle erken çocukluk döneminde yüksek pozitiflik oranlarýna sahip olduðu gözlemlenmiþtir. Rotavirüs enfeksiyonlarýnýn ilkbahar-yaz aylarýnda, adenovirüs enfeksiyonlarýnýn ise sonbahar aylarýnda artýþ göstermesi, bölgesel mevsimsel dinamiklerin önemine iþaret etmektedir. Elde edilen bulgular, AGE yönetiminde hedef gruplara yönelik önlemlerin geliþtirilmesine katký saðlayabilir.