Incidence of rotavirus infection in children with gastroenteritis attending Jos university teaching hospital, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the incidence of rotavirus infection in children with gastroenteritis attending Jos university teaching hospital, Plateau State. A total of 160 children with acute diarrhea were selected by random sampling. Stool samples were obtained and assayed for rotavirus antigens by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay technique using standard diagnostic BIOLINE Rotavirus kit. Demographic data of parents were also recorded. Rotavirus were detected in faeces of 22(13.8%) children with acute diarrhea, 90.9% of positive cases of rotavirus gastroenteritis were under 2 years of age with highest prevalence in children 7-12 months of age. Males excreted rotavirus at a significant higher rate than females (P < 0.05). Rotavirus excretion was highest when all three symptoms (diarrhea, fever and vomiting) occurred in the same child (7.5%) and lower when 2 symptoms occurred together (diarrhea and vomiting) with 3.8%, diarrhea and fever with 1.3% and lowest when diarrhea occurred alone with 1.3%. Playing with toys, attending day care, distance of source of water from toilet, eating of food not requiring cooking and playing with other children may serve as predisposing factors of rotavirus disease in these children.

Prevalence and Clinical Manifestations of Rotavirus and Adenovirus Infections in Children Under Five Years Old in Katsina State, Northwestern Nigeria.

“…This is similar to other studies in Nigeria where rotavirus was detected in slightly higher rates in male than in females (Aminu et al, 2008, Pennap andUmoh 2010;Junaid et al, 2011). Similar studies in other countries such as in South Western Iran (Kajbaf et al, 2013), and in Sudan (Magzoub et al, 2013) have reported higher detection rates of rotavirus infection in males than in females.…”

“…This is in consistent with a number of similar studies in Nigeria ( The highest prevalence of rotavirus infection occurred in the age-group 7-12 months (7.7%). This age-group distribution is comparable to previous reports by Junaid et al, (2011) and Kajbaf et al, (2013) where they reported higher prevalence in children 7-12 months old. The least prevalence of rotavirus infection was observed in the agegroup 0-6 months.…”

Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Group a Rotavirus in Children of Punjab, India

“…The possible reason for this might be that more number of samples are collected from male children, but some researchers also support our study (Saravanan et al, 2004;Banerjee et al, 2006;Junaid et al, 2011).…”

Maternal Education and Diarrhea among Children aged 0-24 Months in Nigeria

“…Signs of dehydration include thirst, irritability, restlessness, lethargy, sunken eye, dry mouth and tongue, dry skins and fewer trips to the bathroom to urinate. Others include lack of interest in playing and extreme sleepiness, fast breathing and rapid heartbeat 12 . Diarrhea incidence remains a tremendous burden on children in low-and middle-income countries due to multiple determinants such as; child malnutrition, low socioeconomic status, maternal education, lack of safe drinking-water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene 11 .…”

“…Diarrheal incidence has been found to be highest in the first two years of life and declines as a child grows older 11 . The occurrence of diarrhea comes with symptoms like vomiting, stooling and can quickly lead to dehydration in young children 1,12 . Signs of dehydration include thirst, irritability, restlessness, lethargy, sunken eye, dry mouth and tongue, dry skins and fewer trips to the bathroom to urinate.…”