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Viral diarrhoea in a rural coastal region of Karnataka India
M Shetty1, T A Brown, M Kotian
1Department of Microbiology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India.
Insights
This study investigated viral causes of acute diarrhea in young children in South India. Rotaviruses were the most common viral agent identified in children under five.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Acute diarrhea remains a significant health concern in children under five, particularly in developing regions.
- Identifying the etiological agents of acute diarrhea is crucial for effective management and prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the etiological role of viruses in acute diarrhea among children under five years of age.
- To investigate the prevalence of different viral pathogens causing acute gastroenteritis in a South Indian pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study was conducted over six months at Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Manipal, Karnataka, South India.
- Stool samples from 106 children under five admitted with acute diarrhea were analyzed for viral pathogens.
- Conventional diagnostic methods were used to isolate and identify viral and non-viral agents.
Main Results:
- Viral agents were identified in 21% of the cases.
- Rotaviruses were the most frequently detected virus, accounting for 11% of all cases.
- Adenoviruses (3%), coronaviruses (2%), and astroviruses (2%) were also identified. Non-viral pathogens included Cryptosporidium, Salmonella typhimurium, Entamoeba histolytica, and Shigella flexneri.
Conclusions:
- Viruses, particularly Rotavirus, play a significant role in acute diarrhea among young children in South India.
- The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions, including vaccination against Rotavirus, to reduce the burden of pediatric diarrhea.
- Comprehensive etiological investigations are essential for understanding and controlling diarrheal diseases in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
A total of 106 children below 5 years of age admitted to the Kasturba Medical College Hospital Manipal Karnataka (South India) were investigated over a period of 6 months to determine the aetiological role of viruses in acute diarrhoea. Viral aetiological agents isolated were Rotaviruses in 12 (11 per cent) cases, Adenoviruses in 3 (3 per cent) cases, coronavirus and astroviruses in two (2 per cent) cases each. Non-viral isolates were Cryptosporidium and Salmonella typhimurium in two cases each, and Entamoeba histolytica and Shigella flexneri in one case each.