Risk factors for rotavirus diarrhea in children up to five years of age

Background: despite measures to improve sanitation and reduce morbidity and mortality caused by diarrhea, rotavirus infection is a cause of hospitalizations.Objective: to identify risk factors associated with rotavirus diarrhea in children treated at the “Mártires de Las Tunas” Provincial Pediatric Hospital, in the period 2018-2019.Methods: a case-control study was carried out with pediatric patients admitted with a diagnosis of diarrhea. The universe consisted of 438 patients and the sample of 205 children up to five years of age who were tested for rotavirus. It was divided into a study group of 69 patients with a positive test for rotavirus and a control group of 136 patients who were negative to the test. Statistical processing was performed according to the OR calculation, with a 95 % reliability index.Results: the risk factors with an identified causal association were: age between six months and one year, 11 months and 29 days; poor nutritional status, with a higher incidence in the thin patients; and when the patient was less than six months old and with artificial or mixed breastfeeding. There was no causal association in those under six months; the 2 to 5 age group; and the overweight and obese nutritional states. The following protective factors were identified: normoweight nutritional status; and in children under six months with exclusive breastfeeding.Conclusions: the risk factors for rotavirus diarrhea in the province of Las Tunas were determined, which will make it possible to establish strategies for a better management.