Journal of Tropical Pediatrics Advance Access published online on September 11, 2008
Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, doi:10.1093/tropej/fmn081
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Prevalence of Rotavirus-induced Diarrhoea among Children under 5 Years in Ilorin, Nigeria
aDepartment of Microbiology & Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria
bOlanrewaju Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria
cDepartment of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
dDepartment of Microbiology & Parasitology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria
Correspondence: M. S. Odimayo, Department of Microbiology & Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria. Tel.: +234 080-33-744661; Fax: +234 080-57-208206. E-mail: <simideledimayo{at}yahoo.com>
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Abstract |
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Diarrhoea disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in Nigerian children and rotavirus has been identified as an important causative agent among children below 5 years. We determined the prevalence of rotavirus-induced diarrhoea among under-5 s by electropherotyping. Stool samples were collected from eligible subjects who presented with acute diarrhoea. The samples were processed for viral studies by electropherotyping. Among the 299 subjects recruited, 55.9% were positive for rotavirus. Eighty percent of the recruited patients were below 24 months. There was a significant decrease (p-value = 0.00001) in the prevalence of rotavirus among diarrhoea patients above the age of 24 months when compared with those below this age group. Rotavirus was associated with higher morbidity and mortality. We conclude that rotavirus is the most important cause of diarrhoea among children <5 years in Ilorin, Nigeria and its prevalence is highest in the first 2 years of life. Adequate rehydration should be regarded as the mainstay of management.