Profile and trends of rotavirus gastroenteritis in under-five children in India (2012-2014): Preliminary report of the Indian national rotavirus surveillance network

Abstract

To estimate the burden of rotavirus-associated gastroenteritis in India. Hospital based surveillance network was established, with clinical evaluation and laboratory testing for rotavirus among children aged below 5 years hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis. Between September 2012 and December 2014, stool samples from 10207 children were tested and rotavirus was detected in 39.6% of cases. Infections were more commonly seen among younger children (<2 years). Detection rates were higher during cooler months of September February. Among rotavirus infected children, 64.0% had severe or very severe disease. G1P[8] was the predominant rotavirus genotype (62.7%) observed during the surveillance period. Surveillance data highlights the high rotavirus disease burden and emphasizes the need for close monitoring to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with rotavirus gastroenteritis in India.