Etiological and Epidemiological of Viral Diarrhea Among Children Under the Age of Five in Shenyang From 2018 to 2020

Abstract Diarrhea is one of the leading causes of death among children, especially in the age under five, but little data are available on the etiology of viral diarrhea in Shenyang. To understand the infection status and the relevant epidemiological characteristics of viral diarrhea and to fill gaps of how the distribution of viruses change across Shenyang in children under the age of five with diarrhea, stool specimens of children with diarrhea aged 0-59 months and surveillance data was collected from Sentinel Hospital of Shenyang. Rotavirus, calicivirus, adenovirus, and astrovirus 4 viruses were then analyzed, and the proportion of children who tested positive for each pathogen was calculated and seasonal and spatial patterns for major organisms were determined. Viruses were identified in 47.9% of the 897 samples from children with diarrhea. The main viruses of stool samples were rotavirus (16.9%, predominant type G9P[8]), calicivirus (14.7%, norovirus, predominant type GII ), adenovirus (11.8%), and astrovirus (4.5%). Viral infections were mainly detected in the age of 0-12 months. In the area of Shenyang, Huanggu has the most cases (198, 22.1%), followed by Dadong (137, 15.3%) and Hunnan (135, 15.1%). The positive rate of viruses in patients of different ages, seasons, and regions was not same. Public health entities and the government should develop corresponding measures for different age groups, seasons, and regions.