Molecular Detection of Rotavirus Infection Associated with Diarrhoea among Children Aged 0 – 5 Years Attending Jahun General Hospital, Jigawa State

Abstract

Group A Rotavirus causes infectious, severe and dehydrating diarrhoea which has great impact on childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, there are limited data on this subject matter in the study area. This study was designed to investigate the disease prevalence and risk factors of Rotavirus infection among children 0 - 5 years attending General Hospital Jahun, Jigawa State. A total of 227 stool samples were collected from children aged 0 – 60 months (mean age, 14 ± 0.2 months) and screened for Rotavirus Group A by Real – Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT- PCR) methods. Their socio-demographic information and clinical presentations were also recorded. Out of 227 children, 11(4.8%) were positive for Rotavirus Group A. The highest prevalence of Rotavirus diarrhoea in children was recorded among children aged 11-20 months- 3(1.3%), and the lowest was among those in age group 41-50 months, - 1(0.4%). The Rotavirus diarrhoea infection was observed to be slightly higher in females 7(3.1%) compared to males, 4(1.7%) with no statistical association based on gender of the children and Rotavirus diarrhoea infection in this study (p-value= 0.0640). However, there was a statistically significant association between the sources of drinking water and Rotavirus diarrhoea infection (p- value = 0.003).
Also, there was strong association between duration of time of diarrhoea and Rotavirus diarrhoea infection (p – value = 0.001). In addition, there was an association between change in colour of stool and Rotavirus diarrhoea infection (p – value = 0.029). Although the prevalence of Rotavirus infection in children ≤5 years in this study is low, however, there is need for public enlightenment programme on mode of transmission, risk factors and preventive measures of Rotavirus diarrhoea infection in order to checkmate the spread of the disease and associated morbidity and mortality.