India alone accounted for approximately 22% of world RVGE deaths (98,621 deaths) in children aged less than 5 years [1]. These figures clearly indicate high burden of rotavirus mortality among Indian

children. Rotavirus associated morbidity in India is also well documented. Many Indian studies including the Indian Rotavirus Strain Surveillance Network (IRSN) have evaluated RVGE burden amongst hospitalized cases of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and some studies also demonstrated rotaviruses strain diversity as in other developing countries [2], [3], [4], [5] and [6]. These hospital based studies included testing stool samples for rotavirus this website and to determine the causative rotavirus strains. However, well designed study data is not available with respect to burden of RVGE as well as causative rotavirus strains when AGE cases Selleckchem CHIR99021 are enrolled in pediatric outpatient

settings and are followed up for the disease spectrum. We conducted an observational study to understand the epidemiological profile of RVGE in private outpatient settings in India. Earlier reports of studies conducted in hospitalized settings probably represent severe cases of RVGE that needed hospitalization, while the present study aimed to include information on disease caused by RVGE which is seen first in the outpatient department (OPD). The objective of the study was to describe RVGE in children aged less than 5 years who attended OPDs of private pediatric clinics in urban areas. Accordingly stool samples of AGE subjects were tested to determine rotavirus positivity and RV positive samples were tested for G and P types. Other characteristics of RVGE like clinical presentation, severity, economical very and psychological impact on the parents/family of the children were also studied and compared to non-RVGE. This was an observational, prospective study conducted at 11 sites located in urban areas across all five geographical (north, south, east, west, and central) regions of the country. Children

less than 5 years of age who attended the OPD of private pediatric clinics for the treatment of AGE were enrolled. The study was conducted over a period of 11 months (15 December 2011–14 November 2012); however individual sites differed in their study duration due to variation in AGE burden and monthly enrollment rate. Parents/guardians of children aged less than 5 years (60 months) who suffered from AGE and attended OPD, were informed about the study in detail. Children who met the eligibility criteria were included in the study after written informed consent obtained from the parents/guardians. AGE was defined as three or more loose or watery stools and/or one or more episodes of forceful vomiting in a 24-h period. These symptoms must have occurred within 3 days prior to the OPD visit. Children who were enrolled in any other trial, or had history of rotavirus infection, or had received a rotavirus vaccine were excluded.