[Patho-anatomic changes in rotaviral gastroenteritis in children].

Two children (a 6-month-old girl and a 9-month boy) died from Rotavirus gastroenteritis as evidenced by virological, electron microscopic, and immune fluorescence studies of intestinal tissue. Histological and morphometric examinations of the small intestine revealed acute diffuse enteritis with enlarged and shortened villi, infiltration of intrinsic plates with lymphocytes, plasma cells and macrophages, enhanced mitotic activity of epitheliocytes and their increased lymphocyte-induced infiltration. The hepatic tissue showed central lobular fatty infiltration. The above changes should be regarded as manifestations of Rotavirus infection. Pneumonia detected in one of the children had been caused by influenza infection.