The most common causes of acute viral gastroenteritis in newborn period are rotavirus, astrovirus, norovirus and enteric adenovirus. This study was designed to investigate the clinical characteristics, clinical symptoms, isolation rate and distribution of these viruses in full-term neonates during neonatal period. We also studied the influence on the viral isolation rate by postnatal care place and feeding type.

We evaluated 112 healthy full-term neonates who were admitted to Eulji hospital, presenting with symptoms of acute viral gastroenteritis from September 2004 to August 2005. Epidemiologic, clinical and laboratory data were reviewed. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for rotavirus, astrovirus and norovirus and RT-PCR for enteric adenovirus were performed in study subjects.

The mean age at the admission was 11.4±5.4 days, mean weight loss was 5.9±5.1%, mean hospitalization duration was 6.3±3.4 days. Moderate and severe weight loss were expressed in 51.7% and metabolic acidosis was in 13.4%. The percent of living in postnatal care facility (PCF) was 74.1% and the percent of mixed feeding was 64.3%. Isolation rate of virus was 33%. The most prevalent virus was rotavirus (59.5%), followed by astrovirus (29.7%) and norovirus (10.8%). There was no differences in virus isolation rate by postnatal care place and by feeding type. The rotavirus was main virus in both home group and PCF group. But astrovirus was more detected in PCF and norovirus was more detected in home ( P <0.05). According to monthly distribution of virus, acute viral gastroenteritis in newborn period was concentrated in September to December.

The isolation rate of 4 type viruses was 33% and rotavirus was the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis during neonatal period. There was no differences in clinical characteristics on each viral groups.