Rotavirus and Severe Childhood Diarrhea

Studies published between 1986 and 1999 indicated that rotavirus causes approximately 22% (range 17%-28%) of childhood diarrhea hospitalizations. From 2000 to 2004, this proportion increased to 39% (range 29%-45%). Application of this proportion to the recent World Health Organization estimates of diarrhea-related childhood deaths gave an estimated 611,000 (range 454,000-705,000) rotavirus-related deaths.