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Published on: January 28, 2019
Surveillance and Genotypic Distribution of Rotavirus Diarrhea in Children with Acute Gastroenteritis in Dhanbad,
Avinash Kumar1, Jyotsna Singh2, Rishabh Kumar Rana3
1Department of Pediatrics, SNMMCH, Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India.
Insights
Rotavirus (RV) gastroenteritis affects nearly half of young children hospitalized with diarrhea in Dhanbad, Jharkhand. The G2P[4] strain is most common, highlighting the need for ongoing RV surveillance and genotype monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Rotavirus (RV) vaccine introduced in Jharkhand's Universal Immunization Program in April 2018.
- Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) remains a significant health concern in children under 5 years old.
- Understanding the epidemiology of RV in Dhanbad is crucial post-vaccine introduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the epidemiology, sociodemography, and clinical and genotypical distribution of rotavirus in children under 5 years with AGE in Dhanbad, Jharkhand.
- To assess the prevalence of rotavirus post-vaccine introduction.
- To identify common rotavirus strains.
Main Methods:
- Hospital-based, prospective, observational study conducted in Dhanbad from December 2019 to December 2023.
- Inclusion of children under 5 years admitted with AGE.
- Stool sample testing for rotavirus and genotyping of positive samples.
Main Results:
- Out of 591 enrolled children, 510 stool samples were tested for RV.
- Rotavirus was detected in 237 (46.5%) children, with the highest prevalence in the 12-23 month age group (57.2%).
- G2P[4] was the most prevalent RV strain, followed by G3P[8].
Conclusions:
- Diarrhea continues to be a major cause of hospitalization in young children.
- Untreated drinking water is a significant factor among hospitalized children with diarrhea.
- The evolving genotypic distribution of rotavirus necessitates continuous surveillance and detection of novel genotypes.
Objectives:
On April 7, 2018, the rotavirus (RV) vaccine was introduced into the Universal Immunization Program of Jharkhand. This study was undertaken to describe the epidemiology, sociodemography, and clinical and genotypical distribution of children aged < 5 y with acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in Dhanbad, Jharkhand.
Methods:
This hospital-based, prospective, observational study was performed across three hospitals in Dhanbad between December 2019 and December 2023. Admitted children with AGE aged < 5 y were included, and data for all enrolled children (as defined in the study protocol) were captured. The collected stool samples were tested for RV, and positive samples were genotyped.
Results:
Of the 591 children enrolled, 510 stool samples were eligible for RV testing; 237 (46.5%) children were found to be RV-positive, of whom 103 (57.2%) were aged 12-23 mo. The odds of developing RV gastroenteritis were 1.26 times higher in females than males (95% CI: 0.86-1.85; p = 0.22). G2P[4] was the most prevalent strain in RV-positive children, followed by G3P[8].
Conclusions:
The results of this study confirm that diarrhea remains an important cause of hospitalization in children aged < 5 y; additionally, the impact of untreated drinking water among hospitalized children with diarrhea is high. The changing genotypic distribution pattern of RV emphasizes the need for continued surveillance and the detection of new genotypes.
