title: EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ROTAVIRUS DIARRHEA AMONG CHILDREN AGED LESS THAN 5 YEARS IN RURAL SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the epidemiological and clinical features of rotavirus infection among children aged less than 5 years in rural southern Ethiopia. We conducted a hospital-based, prospective study among children aged less than 5 years with acute diarrhea and moderate to severe dehydration attending the outpatient department of Gambo Rural Hospital, Ethiopia during September-November 2012. Three hundred fourteen children were included in the study, of whom 137 (43.6%) had rotavirus infection. The average age of children with rotavirus infection was lower than those without it [odds ratio (OR): 0.94]. Finding severe dehydration on skin pinch test (adjusted OR: 3.76) and having diarrhea for !3 days (adjusted OR: 2.50) were associated with rotavirus infection. The mortality rate was 4.4% among rotavirus infection children and 0% among non-rotavirus diarrhea cases (p=0.006). Rotavirus infection should be suspected in children with severe dehydration on a skin pinch test and among those presenting with diarrhea for 3 days in rural southern Ethiopia.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Iñaki
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alegria
authors.forename: Dalu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tessema
authors.forename: Nuri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Gabrel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tissiano
authors.forename: Haji
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fano
authors.forename: Tafese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yohannes
authors.forename: Ashenafi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gosa
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tesfamariam
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reyes
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003681:Dehydration / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006780:Hospitals, Rural; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012401:Rotavirus; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index