Diarrhoea in north Karnataka: Rotavirus versus non-rotavirus

Abstract

Background: As children with diarrhoea are often prescribed antibiotics, it was decided to study the causative organisms. Rotavirus is a major cause of diarrhoea and diarrhoea related mortality in most parts of India. Rotavirus vaccine is available but expensive. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) the vaccine should be used in areas where diarrhoea related under five mortality is around 10%. The situation in north Karnataka is not known. Objectives: To find proportions of rotavirus and nonrotavirus diarrhoea in children of north Karnataka and study the key clinical features of rotavirus diarrhoea. Study design and settings: Prospective observational study conducted in patients from the paediatric ward and outpatient department in a tertiary care hospital. Method: Children 1 to 36 months old, presenting with acute diarrhoea from July 2014 to May 2016 and fulfilling selection criteria were included. Demographic and clinical details were noted. Stools were collected within 24 hours and subjected to routine and microscopic examination, test for presence of reducing substance, bacterial culture and Rapid ELISA test for rotavirus using antigen detection micro-well ELISA kit by Premere Rotaclone. Results: A total of 168 children was recruited. Children positive for rotavirus ELISA were labelled as having rotavirus diarrhoea and comprised 52 (31%) of total, including 17 with mixed infection and 15% were bacterial culture positive. Most common age group affected was 7 to 18 months (79%). Male female ratio was same in rotavirus and non-rotavirus diarrhoea.

Evaluating the Diagnostic Accuracy of Rapid Immuno-chromatographic Tests for Early Detection of Rotavirus in Fecal Samples from Children Less than Five Years with Acute Watery Diarrhea

“…12 With ELISA, we observed a 30.19% prevalence of rotavirus-induced diarrhea in children under the age of five. The findings of this study were corroborated by reports from different parts of India, including Mumbai, Maharashtra 28%, 13 Vijayapur, Karnataka 31%, 14 Agartala, Tripura 36% . 15 In our study, the highest prevalence of rotavirus infection was observed in male children (52.6%) compared to female children (47.4%), with a male-to-female ratio of 1.1:1.…”