Acute Gastroenteritis in Children Below 5 Years of Age at Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India Post Introduction of Rotavirus Vaccine into National Immunization Programme.

objectiveTo identify the burden of rotavirus acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and the genotypes presenting in the authors' area in the period after introduction of rotavirus vaccine in Universal Immunization Programme (UIP).

methodsChildren aged less than 5 y and presenting to hospital for the treatment of AGE were enrolled into the study from January 2016 to June 2019. Clinical details including age, gender, extent of illness, number of stools, concomitant vomiting and fever, grade of dehydration, and associated illness were recorded. Stool samples were tested for rotavirus using a commercially available ELISA Kit. Genotyping was performed for the rotavirus antigen-positive samples.

resultsRotavirus positive AGE was seen in 14.2% of the children. High burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis was seen in the age group of 6-23 mo and more cases were observed from December to February months. In our region the prevalent rotavirus genotypes in positive samples are G3 and G1 in G-typing, P[8] and P[4] in P-typing, respectively. G3P[8] and G1P[8] are the most prevalent genotypes identified in our area with a frequency of 35.1% and 25.9%, respectively. Almost all the cases (97.7%) got discharged and only one patient has died.

conclusionThe findings conclude a declining trend in the rotavirus positive AGE cases in the authors' area after introduction of Rotavac vaccine in the UIP.