Rotavirus Induced Diarrhoea Among Children Under 5 Years In Ilorin, Nigeria

📄 Project Abstract

Diarrhoea disease is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in infants and young children, especially in the developing countries. Rotavirus is the most common cause of acute diarrhoea in children under 2 years of age worldwide and has been reported as a cause of endemic viral diarrhoea in children in Nigeria. This study aimed at determining the prevalence and symptomatology of rotavirus induced diarrhoea and assessing the understanding of caregivers on the causation of diarrhoea diseases in children less than 5 years of age in Ilorin, Nigeria. Two hundred and ninety-nine (299) patients below 5 years who presented with diarrhoea and 240 age-matched subjects without diarrhoea 15 for the preceding 2 weeks (as control) were recruited during this study period, which spanned from December 2003 to November 2004. On recruitment, the basic bio-data were collected. Fresh stool samples from subjects were processed for viral studies by ELISA and electropherotyping. Sixty-three (21.1%)...