TITLE:
Impact of Rotavirus Vaccination on Acute Gastroenteritis Characteristics and Admission Rates: A Retrospective Observational Study from a Single Center in Jordan
AUTHORS:
Yazan O. Al Zùbi, Ahmed H. Al Sharie, Farouk H. Wafai, Tesneem Al-Mwajeh, Mohammad Al Hamoud, Hamza Aburayya, Malak Alkhasawneh, Eyad Altamimi
KEYWORDS:
Acute Gastroenteritis, Rotavirus, Vaccine, Jordan
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.13 No.11,
October
30,
2025
ABSTRACT: Background: Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a prevalent condition in childhood and poses a significant burden on healthcare systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Viral pathogens are the primary causative agents, with rotavirus being the most common in pediatric populations. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the burden of rotavirus as a causative agent of AGE requiring hospitalization in children, and to assess trends in disease incidence following the introduction of rotavirus vaccination in Jordan. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at King Abdullah University Hospital (KAUH) and included children aged 18 years and below who were hospitalized with AGE between January 2015 and December 2020. Stool diagnostic workups were performed for all patients. Clinical and laboratory data were extracted from electronic medical records. AGE episodes were categorized into two groups: “Rota” (rotavirus-confirmed cases) and “Other” (all other causes). Results: A total of 675 children experienced 709 AGE episodes during the study period. Of these, 237 cases (33.4%) were attributed to rotavirus infection. The incidence of rotavirus-related AGE declined over the five-year period, with a seasonal peak consistently observed in May. Rotavirus vaccination was associated with a lower proportion of rotavirus-positive cases; however, this association did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: Rotavirus remains a significant contributor to pediatric AGE requiring hospitalization. A downward trend in rotavirus incidence over the years may reflect the positive impact of vaccination. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm vaccine effectiveness and better understand causality.