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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20151545
Research Article
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Malaysia
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of
Arizona, Arizona state, USA
2
INTRODUCTION
Rotavirus is a common cause of diarrhea among children
below 5 years old, with approximately 110 million cases
and 600,000 childhood deaths each year worldwide.1,2 It
accounts for approximately 40% of diarrheal illness
under 5 years old.3 Children below two years of age are
particularly vulnerable to rotavirus infection4-6 due to lack
of immunity and greater risk of dehydration. Dehydration
is a potentially dangerous complication of rotavirus
infection, which can be measured on a scale from mild, to
moderate to severe.7-10 Therapy for rotavirus patients is
International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health | January 2016 | Vol 3 | Issue 1
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Ethical issues
METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, data were collected
prospectively from diarrhea patients under 5 years of age
in three public hospitals and out-patient clinics in the
cities of Zliten and Khoms in northwest of Libya from
August 2012 to April 2013. The three hospitals have a
total of 962 therapy beds, and provide health services for
about 475,754 people. Outpatient clinics were co-located
with the hospitals.
Data collection
Case definition
Each diarrhea patient aged under 5 years, regardless of
other symptoms such as fever, vomiting or dehydration,
admitted to the pediatric ward or presenting at an
outpatient clinic visit was included in this study.20,21 The
standard definition for diarrhea was three times or more
instances of liquid stool in a day.22
Statistical analysis
Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Summary
descriptive statistics were calculated to describe age,
seasonal distribution, gender, dehydration status and
mortality by rotavirus infection. Treatments used for
cases were determined and stratified by dehydration
status (severe, moderate or no dehydration). Differences
in treatment by dehydration status and rotavirus testing
result (positive/negative) were determined using chisquare testing.
International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health | January 2016 | Vol 3 | Issue 1
Page 38
Percentage of Patients
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
69%
44%
13%
13%
Medication
%
98
4
69
44
13
13
NegativeRotavirus
N = 234
No. of
patients
218
31
164
114
20
20
Chisquare
test
(p-value)
94
13
70
49
9
9
0.002
0.001
0.874
0.326
0.090
0.138
Variable
Severe
Dehydration
n = 97
Moderate
Dehydration
n = 205
No. of
Patients
No. of
Patients
No
Dehydration
n=9
No. of
Patients
IVF
97 100 203
99 6
ORT
2
2
5
2
4
Paracetamol 78 80
132
64 6
Antibiotics
53 55
83
40 1
Zinc sulfate
9
9
31
15 1
Lacteol fort
9
9
29
14 1
Note: percentages are not mutually exclusive.
%
67
44
67
11
11
11
Chisquare
test for
trend
(pvalue)
0.001
0.002
0.009
0.003
0.238
0.310
International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health | January 2016 | Vol 3 | Issue 1
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International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health | January 2016 | Vol 3 | Issue 1
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