Rotavirus Disease in Germany—A Prospective Survey of Very Severe Cases

OBJECTIVE:Rotavirus (RV) gastroenteritis is a notifiable disease in Germany. The reports to the authorities contain few data concerning the severity of disease. The aims of this study were to determine incidence and outcome of very severe cases of RV disease. METHODS:Cases of very severe RV disease were collected by the German Paediatric Surveillance Unit for rare diseases (Erhebungseinheit für seltene pädiatrische Erkrankungen in Deutschland) using anonymous questionnaires based on hospitalized patients between April 2009 and March 2011. Inclusion criteria were detection of RV antigen in feces, patient aged 0–16 years and 1 or more of the following criteriaintensive care treatment, hypernatremia or hyponatremia (>155 mmol/L or