輪狀病毒是引起全世界嬰幼兒及小孩嚴重腹瀉的主因。因此，應及早提供疫苗以預防輪狀病毒腸胃炎。因輪狀病毒腸胃炎造成的死亡率低，所以，在決定全面性的推廣疫苗前，必須先評估該疫苗所能減少的罹病率及因該病毒感染後所需要的醫護費用。目前，台灣地區有關輪狀病毒感染的流行病學資料仍然非常缺乏，本文的目的是回顧輪狀病毒腸胃炎流行病學以提供國人預防感染的策略，使輪狀病毒感染的罹病率及死亡率降到最低。

Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrhea morbidity in infants and children throughout the world. Rotavirus gastroenteritis should soon be a vaccine-preventable disease. Mortality due to rotavirus intestinal infection is very low; therefore, decision on introduction of mass rotavirus I vaccination will be based on ability of the vaccine to reduce morbidity and the associated health care cost associated with rotavirus infection. However, information of epidemiology of rotavirus infection is rare in Taiwan. The purpose of this study is to review the epidemiology of rotavirusassociated intestinal infection for prevention and intervention efforts.

輪狀病毒 ； 疫苗 ； 死亡率 ； 腹瀉

Rotavirus, vaccine, mortality, diarrhea.