Objective: Viral gastroenteritis is among the significant infectious diseases in childhood period, especially in infants. Among the causative agents of infantile viral gastroenteritis, adenoviruses rank second to rotaviruses. In this study the seasonal and age distribution of adenovirus gastroenteritis in children were investigated.

Material and Methods: Adenovirus was investigated in the stool samples of children with acute gastroenteritis by using Adenovirus Rapid Test Device (Meikang Biotech, Shanghai) which was based on immunochromatography.

Results: Among 1329 children admitted to Konya Research and Education Hospital in 2009 with acute gastroenteritis 58 (4.4 %) revealed adenovirus serotype 40 and 41 antigen in their stool samples. The age range of children with adenovirus was between 5 months to 16 years. Most of the cases were between 0 and 2 years (n=47; 81 %). Although diarrhea was most frequent during autumn (5.4 %) and also in May (6.7 %), there was no significant statistical difference in incidence of adenovirus gastroenteritis in terms of seasons and months.

Conclusion: The detection of adenoviruses in severe acute gastroenteritis in infants is important in order to prevent unnecessary use of antibiotics.