From March 1983 to February 1985, rectal swabs were collected from the black infants admitted to the gastroenteritis unit at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa, to investigate the prevalence of rotavirus-associated gastroenteritis. Overall, 23.1% of the patients tested were found to be positive for rotaviral illness; a definite seasonal pattern emerged, showing a marked increase in the number positive during the autumn. Other factors of importance in terms of rotaviral illness included the age distribution of the patients, the presence of vomiting, and duration of illness.
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