Abstract: 9189 diarrhea cases from central-south China were studied in 1983-1984. The results indicated that the most common etiologic agents of diarrhea were rotavirus in largeand median-sized cities and Shigella(group B)in small cities and rural areas. Although rotaviruses were detected Predominantely in children under 5 Years of age,one third of the cases of rotavirus enteroeolitis were found in young people(20-30 years old).