Prevalence of Rotavirus among Iraqi children with diarrhea in Diyala province

Abstract

Background: Rotavirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in children below five years.
 Objectives: The aim of this study to evaluate the prevalence of rotavirus among children with diarrhea, the efficacy of Rotavirus Rapid Test Device (RTD)and ELISA and evaluate the relationship between the demographic agent and clinical presentation associated with rotavirus.
 Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at AL-Batool Teaching Hospital in Baqubah, from the first of April 2019 to 31 of March 2020, on (300) children with diarrhea below five years of age. The patients included (n=161, 53.6%) males and (n=139, 46.3%) females. The patient’s age, gender, living area, season, mode of feeding, source of water supply and sterilization, were collected through a questionnaire prepared for this study. The Rapid Test and ELISA are used for the detection of rotavirus in fecal specimens.
 Results: The rotavirus antigen was detected in (47.33%) stool specimens by the ELISA test and (59%) by Rotavirus Rapid Test Device (RTD) from (300) children with diarrhea and high infection in the age group between 13-24 months at the rate (49.40%). The highest infection rate in spring was (56.00%) and lower in summer (33.33%). The infection males more than females (42.24% vs. 39.57%). High significant infection among children living in rural areas (55.68%) compared to those living in urban areas (35.48%). According to the clinical features, the results showed the rate of rotavirus infection in children with fever was (54.90%), vomiting (42.03%), those suffering from severe dehydration (48.85) some dehydration 78 (46.15%), however, rotavirus infection was significant with fever only.