JHSM
Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine

Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine (JHSM) is an unbiased, peer-reviewed, and open access international medical journal. The Journal publishes interesting clinical and experimental research conducted in all fields of medicine, interesting case reports, and clinical images, invited reviews, editorials, letters, comments, and related knowledge.

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Original Article
Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on rotavirus infection frequency in children
Abstract
Aims: During the COVID-19 pandemic, measures such as the wearing of masks, social distancing, enhanced hygiene practices, closures of workplaces and schools, and lockdowns influenced the spread of various infectious diseases. This study aimed to compare the frequency of rotavirus infections during the pandemic to that of the pre-pandemic period.
Methods: This retrospective study included 2912 patients diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis who were admitted to the Pediatric Health and Diseases Department of Hisar Intercontinental Hospital between January 2018 and August 2022. For the diagnosis of rotavirus infection, the Rota-Adeno Ag Rapid Test-Cassette was applied to stool samples as an immunochromatographic method. Patients were divided into two groups based on their hospital admission dates: before the COVID-19 pandemic (1 January 2018 to 10 March 2020) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (11 March 2020 to 30 August 2022).
Results: The prevalence of rotavirus infection in the entire population was 9.5% (n=277). The rate of cases of rotavirus infection was higher among patients during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the group of patients before the COVID-19 pandemic (10.9% vs. 8.7%, p=0.050). A sharp decline in the frequency of rotavirus infection was observed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period, followed by a sharp increase. In 2022, the frequency of rotavirus infections exceeded the pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels.
Conclusion: The provision of the rotavirus vaccine for free by health authorities, especially for at-risk infants, together with adherence to hand washing, hygiene, and sanitation rules can significantly reduce the frequency of rotavirus infections during both pandemic and non-pandemic periods.

Keywords : COVID-19, pandemic, rotavirus, viral gastroenteritis

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Article available in :
Volume 7, Issue 2, 2024
Page : 213-218
https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1445998
Article Information
Received : 01 Mar 2024
Accepted : 23 Mar 2024
Published : 25 Mar 2024
Corresponding Author :

Yunus Nas: Department of Pediatric Health and Diseases, Hisar Intercontinental Hospital, İstanbul, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Nas Y, Gözüküçük S. Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on rotavirus infection frequency in children. J Health Sci Med. 2024;7(2):213-218.

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