A STUDY ON CLINICAL PROFILE AND RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATION WITH VIRAL DIARRHEA

Introduction: Due to non-availability or non conduction of viral diagnostic test, diarrhea often misinterpreted to be bacterial in nature leading to irrational antibiotics usage. Thus, study focuses on clinical prole and risk factors association with viruses using Multilpex PCR. Material And Methods: The study was conducted between July 2021 to July 2022 including 150 stool samples of under 5 year children, presented with acute diarrhea and tested with Multiplex RT-PCR. Results: 18.7% of viral diarrhea was detected with highest prevalence of Rotavirus 57.1% in infants with 53.6% Majority cases presented with diarrhea with vomiting and fever with 46.4%. Severe dehydration 28.6% was present in rotavirus infection and severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in mixed viral infection. Conclusion: The common presentation in virus positive cases was diarrhea with vomiting and fever of moderate severity. Multiplex PCR increases diagnostic yield in diarrhea of similar clinical presentation by different etiological agents.