Nutritional Status and Its Association with Rotavirus Positivity Among Children Aged Under 5 Years Hospitalized with...

Among children aged under 5 y, diarrhea and malnutrition are major causes of hospitalization and death. Diarrhea and malnutrition have a bidirectional association. This prospective observational study aimed to characterize the association between nutritional status and rotavirus positivity among children aged under 5 y hospitalized with diarrhea at a tertiary care government hospital in Surat, Gujarat between November 2022 and December 2023.

Data were collected on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and rotavirus vaccination history. Anthropometry was assessed according to the World Health Organization anthropometry guidelines. Groups were compared using Chi-square tests and odds ratios.

Among the participants who underwent nutritional status assessment, 30.0% had normal nutritional status, whereas 49.4% were underweight; 19.1% had stunting; 43.2% had wasting; 24.5% were malnourished; and an overall 7.8% were underweight, stunted, wasted, and malnourished. A severe degree (z-score <-3 standard deviations) of underweight, stunting, and wasting was observed in 24%, 6.8%, and 31% of children, respectively. Nutritional status did not differ significantly by age group (< 2 y vs. ≥2 y) or by sex. Compared with children without wasting, those with wasting were less likely to be rotavirus-positive (41% vs. 51%); however, this difference was not significant (p = 0.208). Underweight and stunting were not associated with rotavirus status.

Underweight, stunting, and wasting were prevalent among children hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis in Gujarat, indicating a need for nutritional intervention programs. However, rotavirus positivity did not differ significantly according to children's nutritional status.