https://imcjms.com Ibrahim Medical College Journal of Medical Science https://imcjms.com/registration/journal_full_text/424 Sat, 27 Aug 2022 10:58:49 +0000 Abstract Background and objectives: Rotavirus is a significant cause of nonbacterial diarrhea, especially in infants and young children worldwide. This study evaluated the pattern of rotavirus infection in children under five years presenting with acute diarrhea in Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Nigeria. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study to describe the prevalence of rotavirus infection among children. The study enrolled children 1 to 59 months old with acute diarrhea attending General Paediatric Outpatient clinic and hospitalized in the Emergency Paediatric Unit of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada, Nigeria. Rotavirus antigen was detected in the stool by qualitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed using IBM-SPSS version 25.0. Results: The study comprised of 414 diarrhoeal children aged 1–59 months, of which 226 (54.6%) were male and the mean age was 12.1 months. The overall rate of rotavirus infection was 43.0% (178/ 414). The rotavirus infection was slightly higher among females than in males (46.8% vs 39.8%; p=0.153). Children from upper and middle social classes were at 1.95 [CI=1.17–3.26] and 3.08[CI=1.77–5.34] times higher risks of rotavirus induced diarrhea than the children from the lower social class (p<0.005). Children whose mothers had post-secondary education were three times more at risk of rotavirus diarrhea [OR=3.70; CI=1.46–9.36] than those with primary or no formal education (p<0.05). Children who had never been vaccinated against rotavirus were four times more likely to suffer rotavirus infection than those who had been vaccinated [OR=3.96; 95%CI=1.13–13.89, p=0.032]. Conclusion: This study found that rotavirus was an important causative agent of diarrhea in children in Gwagwalada, Abuja. Due to low rotavirus vaccination status in children, rotavirus screening tests are necessary for children with acute diarrheal disease. J Med Sci. 2022; 16(2): 010.  DOI: https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.16.020 *Correspondence: Felix Olaniyi Sanni, Department of Public Health, Fescosof Data Solutions, Ogun, Nigeria. Email: fescosofanalysis@gmail.com   Introduction Diarrhea is one of the leading causes of childhood morbidity and mortality globally [1]. It is responsible for nine percent of all deaths among children under five years of age worldwide [1-3]. Most of these deaths occur in developing countries of Africa and South Asia [4]. The leading cause of death in acute diarrhea is dehydration, which results from excessive loss of fluid and electrolytes in diarrhea stools [5]. The etiology of diarrhea in children can be viral, bacterial, parasitic, nutritional, or other systemic illnesses [6]. Rapid population increase and deteriorating economic situations stretch the country’s available (albeit inadequate) health facilities, negatively impacting the population’s health, especially children under five years. More local studies are needed to reflect the true prevalence of rotavirus and determine the clinical severity of rotavirus diarrhea in North Central Nigeria. This study is designed to provide information and insight into the prevalence of rotavirus disease in Abuja’s Federal Capital Territory. The study has shown that rotavirus is an important causative agent of childhood diarrhoea at the General Paediatric Out-patient Clinic and the Emergency Paediatric Unit of UATH Gwagwalada. The prevalence of rotavirus infection was 43.0%, and more than 90% of rotavirus infections occur in children aged 24 months and below. Due to low rotavirus vaccination status in the community, rotavirus screening tests are necessary for children with acute diarrheal disease. 2.     Bhutta ZA. 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IMC J Med Sci. 2022; 16(2): 010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.16.020 2026 Ibrahim Medical College. All rights reserved.