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Published on: January 28, 2019
Rotavirus Diarrhea and its Determinants Among Under-Five Children Admitted in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Southern
Anil Kumar Goel1, Suraj Chawla2, Arti Dhingra3
1Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur, India.
Insights
Rotavirus diarrhea affects over 11% of young children hospitalized with diarrhea, often causing severe illness. Vaccination is key to preventing and controlling this public health concern.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe diarrheal disease in young children globally.
- Understanding the prevalence and characteristics of rotavirus diarrhea is crucial for effective public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the prevalence of rotavirus diarrhea.
- To identify demographic, social, and clinical characteristics of rotavirus diarrhea in children under five.
- To assess the severity of rotavirus-associated diarrhea.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, hospital-based observational study conducted from February 2016 to June 2019.
- Inclusion of children aged 0-59 months admitted with diarrhea.
- Collection of sociodemographic, clinical data, and stool samples for rotavirus testing.
Main Results:
- Rotavirus was detected in 11.02% of children admitted with acute diarrhea.
- Approximately 76.2% of rotavirus-positive cases presented with severe or very severe diarrhea based on the Vesikari scoring system.
- Rotavirus diarrhea peaked between November and February.
Conclusions:
- Rotavirus diarrhea poses a significant public health challenge due to its association with severe illness.
- Introduction and increased coverage of rotavirus vaccination are essential strategies for prevention and control.
Objective:
To estimate the prevalence of rotavirus diarrhea and its demographic, social, and clinical characteristics among children less than five years of age admitted in a rural tertiary care institute.
Methods:
This prospective hospital-based observational study was carried out during February 2016 to June 2019. Diarrheal admissions of children aged 0-59 mo were screened and those who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Sociodemographic and clinical information was collected using a case report form. Stool samples were collected within 48 h of admission and transported in cold chain every month to the referral laboratory situated at Christian Medical College for testing.
Results:
Among the children admitted with acute diarrhea, 148 (11.02%) were positive for rotavirus in the study. As per Vesikari scoring system, around three fourth (76.2%) of children were having severe or very severe diarrhea. Severity of diarrhea was more among rotavirus positive cases as assessed by the Vesikari scoring system. The rotavirus diarrhea showed a peak during November to February.
Conclusion:
Rotavirus diarrhea is an issue of public health importance, particularly due to its association with the severe diarrhea. As evidenced from similar settings in the world, rotavirus vaccine introduction and increased coverage is the most important strategy towards prevention and control of rotavirus diarrhea.
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