The Economic Burden of Diarrheal Disease in a Tertiary Level Hospital, Gauteng, South Africa

Diarrheal disease remains one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in young children in South Africa. Although a rotavirus vaccine will reduce rotavirus diarrheal morbidity and mortality, its introduction and sustainability will incur considerable costs. The aim of this study was to estimate the costs associated with diarrheal disease of all etiologies in children <5 years of age at Dr George Mukhari Hospital, a tertiary level hospital in Gauteng, South Africa.