OBJECTIVE: To study the variation and significance of serum and stool IL-18 and IFN-γ levels in children with rotavirus enteritis. METHODS: Serum and stool specimens from 50 children with acute rotavirus enteritis were collected before treatment. Serum and stool levels of IL-18 and IFN-γ were measured using ELISA. Serum and stool specimens from 21 age and gender-matched healthy children were used as the Control group. RESULTS: Serum and stool levels of IL-18 and IFN-γ in patients with rotavirus enteritis were significantly higher than those in the Control group. There was a negative correlation between the serum IFN-γ level and the frequency of vomiting (r=-0.368, P<0.05). The stool IL-18 level negatively correlated to the frequency of diarrhea (r=-0.414, P<0.05). A positive correlation was found between the serum levels of IL-18 and IFN-γ (r=0.416, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Serum and stool levels of IL-18 and IFN-γ were increased and associated with the severity in children with rotavirus enteritis. IL-18 and IFN-γ might have protective effects against acute rotavirus infection at the early stage.