Alam Khushbakht, Ghani Eijaz, Rathore Muhammad Ali, Niazi Saifullah Khan, Saeed Hina, Noor Misbah
Department of Virology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Department of Pathology, CMH Lahore, Medical College and Institute of Dentistry, Lahore, Pakistan.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2024 Dec;34(12):1464-1467. doi: 10.29271/jcpsp.2024.12.1464.
To evaluate the use of a multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test in detecting three viruses namely Rotavirus, Norovirus (genotypes 1 and 2), and Astrovirus that cause gastroenteritis in children under the age of five years.
A cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Virology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from January to July 2023.
A total of 87 children having acute diarrhoea and less than 5 years of age were included in this study from the outpatient clinic. Multiplex PCR was performed for the detection of three viruses: Rotavirus, Norovirus, and Astrovirus in stool samples of patients using a commercially available PCR kit. The data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27:00.
Out of total 87 children, aged 2.5 ± 1.5 years, 56 (64.3%) were positive for multiplex RT-PCR and 31 (35.6%) were negative. Rotavirus was identified in 24 (27.5%) children as the most common cause of acute diarrhoea, followed by Norovirus in 20 (22.9%), and Astrovirus in 7 (8%) patients, while co-infection with multiple viruses occurred in 5 (5.7%) of the cases.
This study revealed viral aetiology as a significant cause of acute diarrhoea in children. Multiplex PCR in the healthcare system can make it easier to identify, treat, and control the upsurge of diarrhoea. Prompt diagnosis of viral causes can lead to the prevention of unnecessary use of antibiotics.
Multiplex polymerase chain reaction, Rotavirus, Norovirus, Astroviridae, Diarrhoea.
评估多重实时聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）检测在检测三种病毒中的应用，这三种病毒分别是轮状病毒、诺如病毒（1型和2型）以及星状病毒，它们可导致五岁以下儿童患肠胃炎。
横断面研究。研究地点和时间：2023年1月至7月，巴基斯坦拉瓦尔品第武装部队病理研究所病毒学系。
本研究从门诊诊所纳入了87名患有急性腹泻且年龄小于5岁的儿童。使用市售PCR试剂盒对患者粪便样本中的三种病毒：轮状病毒、诺如病毒和星状病毒进行多重PCR检测。使用社会科学统计软件包（SPSS）27.00版对数据进行分析。
在总共87名年龄为2.5±1.5岁的儿童中，56名（64.3%）多重RT-PCR检测呈阳性，31名（35.6%）呈阴性。24名（27.5%）儿童被鉴定出感染轮状病毒，这是急性腹泻最常见的病因，其次是20名（22.9%）感染诺如病毒，7名（8%）患者感染星状病毒，5名（5.7%）病例出现多种病毒合并感染。
本研究表明病毒病因是儿童急性腹泻的重要原因。医疗系统中的多重PCR检测有助于更轻松地识别、治疗和控制腹泻的激增。对病毒病因的及时诊断可避免不必要地使用抗生素。
多重聚合酶链反应；轮状病毒；诺如病毒；星状病毒科；腹泻
