Epidemiology of Rotavirus Cases among Children under Age 5 Years in Basra Province from 2008-2011

Abstract

Abstract:Rotaviruses are the leading cause of severe diarrheal disease and dehydration in infants and children under the age of 5 worldwide. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence and incidence of Rotavirus cases among children under age 5 years in Basra province from 2008-2011. A 701 stool samples of diarrheal disease in infants and children under the age of 5 years from general Basra hospital were tested for the presence of Rotavirus infection by using of ELISA technique. This study shows the positive cases of RV to total samples of diarrhea were 278 (39.66 %), 165 (59.35 %) of them were males. The incidence rate was more among children less than 11 month. Most of cases (96.4%) admitted with some dehydration, 86.69% treated with both of ORT and IVF. The present study recommends enter the Rotavirus vaccine as part of childhood vaccination programme.