Relation between Water Source and Rotaviral infection: An Observational Study

Abstract

Fecal pollution of water is a major concern in river based countries as it is associated with transmition of the pathogens. Rotavirus is one of them which is the major cause of acute severe dehydrating diarrhoea in children below five years. Arch Microbiol Immunology 2021; 5 (2): 353-361 DOI: 10.26502/ ami.93650068 Arch Microbiol Immunology Vol. 5 No. 3 September 2021. 354 This cross-sectional observational study was designed to determine the association of contaminated water source with Rotaviral infection among under five children admitted in the Department of Paediatrics, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, Sylhet and was carried out in the Department of Microbiology during the period from 1st January to 31st December, 2018. Total 184 under five children with acute watery diarrhoea were enrolled in this study by convenient sampling. Stool samples were obtained and assayed for rotavirus antigens by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Rotaviral antigen was found positive in 86 cases. The Rotavirus infection was found highest in age group of 7 to 12 months (50.56%) and in male (59.30%) children. It was found significantly higher in patients from lower socioeconomic condition (64.00%), in rural area (48.75%) and those who consumed unboiled pond water (94.44%). It was found higher among those children who were not exclusively breastfed (83.87%). Bottle feeding, lower educational level of mother and improper hand washing may serve as predisposing factors of rotavirus disease in these children. Using of contaminated drinking and household water has an important relation with Rotaviral infection. Ignorance of using boiled water can play a significant role for increased prevalence of Rotaviral diarrhoea.