A Correlational study between Nutritional Status and Severity of Rotavirus Diarrhea in children under five years in Bandung, Indonesia

Abstract

AIM : Diarrheal disease is a major cause of poor nutritional status in children. Malnutrition can make a person more susceptible to infection that also contributes to malnutrition, causing a vicious cycle. Surveillance of children hospitalized for diarrhea in 3 Indonesian hospitals found 60% were rotavirus positive; and 41% were positive in outpatient clinics. The aim of this study was to measure the correlation of nutritional status with severity of rotavirus diarrhea. MATERIALS AND METHODS : This study uses a cross sectional design and included all children under 5 years old, both inpatients and outpatients, who presented with acute diarrhea at Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital from January 2009 through December 2012. The Vesikari Clinical Severity Scoring System was considered the measurement for severe rotavirus diarrhea. Assessment of nutritional status used anthropometric weight for height from World Health Organization (WHO) child growth standards. Categorical data were analyzed by Pearson Chi square test. RESULTS : Among 427 children aged 1-59 months, with rotavirus seropositive stool specimens, there were 258 (60%) boys and 169 (40%) girls. Malnutrition status included “well nourished” (74%), “moderately malnourished” (23%) and “severely malnourished” (3%), while the distribution of severity for rotavirus diarrhea was “mild” (10%), “moderate” (21%) and “severe” (69%). This study showed that nutritional status had no significant correlation with severity of rotavirus diarrhea, p =0.524. CONCLUSIONS : Nutritional status had no significant correlation with severity of rotavirus diarrhea.