Epidemiology and Genotype Distribution of Rotavirus Gastroenteritis in Under-Five Children of South Rajasthan, India.

Objective: To determine the epidemiology of rotavirus diarrhea and its genotypes distribution among under five children from Udaipur, Rajasthan.

Methods: Hospital-based prospective study among children aged 0-59 mo of age hospitalized due to acute gastroenteritis and assess the clinical and epidemiological profile. Stool samples collected during 2017-2019 from 734 children, were tested by enzyme immune assay (EIA) to identify rotavirus and the samples that were positive were subjected to genotyping using published methods.

Results: Rotavirus was detected in 12.94% (95/734) of the stool samples. Maximum positivity (38.9%) was seen in children aged 12-23 mo followed by 34.7% in 6-11 mo of age. Detection rates were higher (46.31%, 44/95) during winter months of December-February; 65% children with rotavirus diarrhea had severe dehydration followed by moderate dehydration in 32% of cases. G3P[8] (40, 43.01%) was the commonest genotype followed by G9P[4] (10, 10.75%).

Conclusion: Among under-five children hospitalized due to acute gastroenteritis in a tertiary care setting in Udaipur, Rajasthan, 12.9% of children were rotavirus positive with predominant (43.01%) circulation of G3P[8] strains.