Increased Risk of Neurological Disease Following Pediatric Rotavirus Infection: A Two-Center Case-Control Study

Rotavirus exposure was linked to a variety of extraintestinal complications, with neurological disease being the most significant. As rotavirus infection might lead to extraintestinal complications and poor clinical outcome, pediatricians should be aware of the potential consequence of rotavirus infection. Abstract Background Whether pediatric rotavirus infection is associated with extraintestinal complications remains unknown. Methods We conducted a case-control study to investigate the incidences and risks of rotavirus-associated extraintestinal complications in hospitalized newborns, infants, and children younger than 5 years. Results A total of 1325 young inpatients with rotavirus infection (754 male and 539 newborns) and 1840 controls without rotavirus infection (1035 male and 836 newborns) were included. The incidences of neurological disease were higher among rotavirus individuals compared with controls: newborns, 7.24% (39/539) versus 2.87% (24/836), P < .001; infants and young children, 19.59% (154/786) versus 12.35% (124/1004), P < .001. The associated odd ratios (ORs) for neurological disease frequency following rotavirus infection was 2.64 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.57–4.44) for newborns and 1.73 (95% CI, 1.34–2.24) for infants and young children, which increased to 2.56 (95% CI, 1.57–4.18) in case-control (1:1) matching analysis and 1.85 (95% CI, 1.41–2.42) in confounder adjustment. Rotavirus infection was associated with other extraintestinal complications, depending on study population and disease severity. Outcome analysis revealed rotavirus infection and its consequences had a significant impact on hospitalization and discharge. Conclusions Rotavirus exposure was associated with a spectrum of extraintestinal complications, particularly neurological disease. Rotavirus infection and subsequent consequences resulted in poor clinical outcomes.