A study of diarrhoea among children in eastern Nepal with special reference to rotavirus.

PURPOSE To examine the incidence of Rotavirus infection in children below five years of age. METHODS Faecal samples from 160 children under five years of age with acute gastroenteritis were collected over a period of one year from July 1999 to June 2000. These were studied for the presence of Rotavirus antigen by enzyme immuno assay (EIA). RESULTS Rota antigen could be detected in 62 (38.7%) samples. Co-infection with other parasites or bacterial pathogens in presence of Rota antigen was also demonstrated. Forty one (66.4%) children were admitted for hospital care. Forty two samples positive by EIA were further tested by latex agglutination (LA) to consider introducing this test routinely in clinical laboratory. Although a rapid and convenient test, LA failed to demonstrate antigen in 15 (35.6%) of the samples. CONCLUSIONS Rotavirus infection of children in Nepal is reported for the first time. EIA was found to be more sensitive than LA for the detection of Rotavirus antigen in faecal samples.