Key Points
- To evaluate the incidence, seasonal patterns, and circulating serotypes of enteric viral infections in preschool children over a five-year period.
- Longitudinal viral surveillance of children under six years of age enrolled in kindergartens and day nurseries in Kawasaki City, Japan, beginning in 1962.
- Laboratory isolation and serotype identification conducted on 2,500 collected fecal specimens over a five-year span.
- Viral agents were isolated from 397 of 2,500 fecal specimens (15.88%), comprising 164 coxsackievirus group A, 109 echovirus, 49 coxsackievirus group B, 33 poliovirus, 13 reovirus, 11 adenovirus, and 35 unidentified isolates.
- Dual infections occurred in 17 specimens, and poliovirus isolates were linked to live oral vaccine strains.
- Enterovirus recovery peaked during summer months, was highest among younger age cohorts, and comprised 10 to 12 distinct serotypes circulating annually.
Structured PICO
PPopulationChildren under six years of age in kindergartens and day nurseries in an area of Kawasaki City, Japan (2,500 fecal specimens collected)
OOutcomeVirus isolation and identification from fecal specimens
A 5-year longitudinal study in Kawasaki, Japan, demonstrated seasonal and age-related variations in enterovirus infections among children under six, with high isolation rates in summer and in younger age groups.
Limitations
- Study population was restricted to children attending kindergartens or day nurseries, which may represent a special group rather than the general population
- Individual history of live poliovirus vaccine administration was not surveyed
- The dual host system used for virus isolation was not adequate for adenovirus isolations