Objective To understand the epidemiological and etiological characteristics of viral diarrhea in children under 5 years old in Xuzhou, Jiangsu province, from 2019 to 2021, and provide scientific evidence for the prevention and control of viral diarrhea in local children.

Methods The fecal samples of children under 5 years old, who sought medical care in Xuzhou Children's Hospital due to diarrhea from January 2019 to December 2021, and their epidemiological data were collected. Fluorescence quantitative PCR was used for the nucleic acid detections of five viruses causing diarrhea in children, including rotavirus, norovirus, zarovirus, intestinal adenovirus and astrovirus. Descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze the virus nucleic acid detection results and cases’epidemiological characteristics.

Results A total of 617 fecal samples were collected from the children with diarrhea, in which 279 were virus positive (45.22%). The top three viruses with high positive rates were rotavirus, norovirus, and intestinal adenovirus. The detection rate of single virus was highest (36.30%). The co-detection rate of viruses was 8.91%. The detection rate of viruses was highest in age group 12-months(62.32%, 129/207), much higher than in other three age groups. The detection rate of diarrhea viruses in children was highest in winter, (72.94%, 124/170）.

Conclusion The predominant viruses causing viral diarrhea in children under 5 years old were rotavirus and norovirus in Xuzhou, and the virus detection had obvious seasonal and age distribution characteristics. It is necessary to continue the etiological surveillance, and conduct targeted prevention and control based on the etiological and epidemiological characteristics of viral diarrhea in young children.