Abstract
Objective: Rotavirus (RV) related diarrhea remains a leading cause of mortality in children. This study aimed to establish the burden of RV in preschool children hospitalized for acute gastroenteritis (AGE) at north Indian center and to ascertain the genotypic profile of the RV isolates.
Methods: This prospective study was conducted at tertiary care center of north India from 2017 to 2020. Stool samples were collected from children admitted with acute diarrhea. Clinical details were collected using a predesigned proforma. Stored stool samples were analysed for the presence of RV, further for genotyping.
Results: Total 1277 eligible children aged <5 year, 968 children were enrolled. Stool samples available from 740 children (76.4 %) were collected and processed. RV was isolated from 219 (29.6 %). Children infected with RV were younger (13.07 ± 9 vs 15.84 ± 17 months, p = 0.023) than those without RV infection. Highest incidence of RV infection during winter months observed. Of 206 samples available for genotyping, 195 had single G and 197 single P types. The most prevalent G and P type combinations were G3P 8 strains, in 51 (23.3 %) children, whereas 16 (7 %) strains had >1 G or P. Twenty-nine children (mean age 6.5 months, 22 male) had presented with intussusception: six were positive for RV. Typable strains detected in two samples were G3 P8 and G1 P4+P6+P8.
Conclusion:The study confirms a significant burden of RV among young children admitted with AGE this region of India. G3 P8 was the most common RV strain isolated.
•Rotavirus Infection is an important and major contributor of infectious viral diarrhea leading to huge burden on health infrastructure.
•Rotavirus infection is vaccine preventable and continuous monitoring of locoregional genotypes is needed.
•Rotavirus infection is detected in 30% of under five children with acute diarrhoea from central Uttar Pradesh, India.
•G3P[8] followed by G1P[8] are the most common rotavirus genotype, prevalent in this region•G3 P[8] and G1 P[4]+P[6]+P[8] rotavirus strains were isolated from children with intussusception, reflects the pervasive strains.