Clinical Profile and Characterization of Rotavirus Strains in Under-Five Children with Diarrhea: A Hospital-Based Study from Eastern Odisha, India

Abstract

Objective Diarrheal diseases are one of the most common causes of hospitalization in children under five. Rotavirus is the most common cause of acute diarrhea in younger children, and the prevalence decreases rapidly with increasing age. The objective of the study was to estimate the burden of rotavirus infection in acute gastroenteritis among under-five children admitted to a tertiary care hospital in eastern Odisha, for the clinical profile and identity of the prevalent strains. Methods This was a prospective observational study linked to the National Rotavirus Surveillance Network (NRSN), where 720 under-five children with diarrhea were enrolled. In total, 675 stool samples of eligible candidates were sent for rotavirus isolation, and identification of strains was done by identifying VP7 (G-type) and VP4 (P-type) genes by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results Categorical variables were presented as frequency and percentage, and continuous variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Rotavirus was detected in 256 (37.92%) samples. Males outnumbered females. The most common affected age group was 7 to 12 months, followed by 13 to 18 months. G3P[8] was the most prevalent strain in this study. Conclusion Children between the age of 7 and 18 months were most vulnerable to rotavirus infection. The most prevalent strain varies from one region to another and continuous surveillance is needed.