Study of the Etiology of Acute Respiratory Infections in Children Under 5 Years at the Dr. Agostinho Neto Hospital, Praia, Santiago Island, Cabo Verde

Abstract

Background: Acute respiratory infections are one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in children under 5 years in developing countries and are a challenge for the health system of these countries. In Cabo Verde, despite the lack of recent studies, data indicate that it affects thousands of children, being the fourth leading cause of infant mortality in 2013. The aim of this study was to identify and describe the etiological agents associated with acute respiratory tract infections in children under 5 years old, and their associated risk factors, such as clinical symptoms or socio-demographic characteristics.Methods: Naso-pharyngeal samples were collected from children under 5 years attending at Dr. Agostinho Neto Hospital (Praia, Santiago Island, Cabo Verde) with suspected ARI at different time-points during 2019. Samples were analyzed using FilmArray® Respiratory Panel v. 2.0 Plus to identify etiological agents of ARI. A questionnaire with socio-demographic information was also collected for each participant. Data analyses were carried out using the IBM SPSS version 25 (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY) and R 3.5.1 statistical software.Results: A total of 129 naso-pharyngeal samples were included in the study. Seventeen different etiologic agents of respiratory infections were identified. HRV/EV was the most frequent agent detected, followed by FluA H3 and RSV. Coinfection with two or more pathogens was detected in up to 20% of positive samples. The results were analyzed in terms of age-group, sex, period of the year and other social and demographic factors.Conclusion: Viruses are the main causative agents of ARI in children <5 years attending at the pediatrics service at the Dr. Agostinho Neto Hospital in Praia city, Santiago Island, Cabo Verde. Some factors are described in this study as statistically associated with the presence of an infectious agent, such as having one or more children sharing the bedroom with an adult and the presence of some clinical symptoms. The data addresses the need for studies on respiratory tract infections in Cabo Verde.

Gendered Impact of Age, Toilet Facilities, and Cooking Fuels on the Occurrence of Acute Respiratory Infections in Toddlers in Indonesia and the Philippines

“…Most ARI agents (90%) come from viruses [ 4 ]. The most frequently detected viruses in children with ARI include respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus types A and B, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, human rhinovirus/enterovirus, and human metapneumovirus [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Recently, a severe respiratory distress syndrome known as the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has emerged, causing the COVID-19 respiratory infection [ 7 , 8 ].…”

Types of upper and lower respiratory tract infection in pediatrics

“…ARI frequently necessitates intense treatment, ongoing evaluation, as well as swift and decisive interventions. 3 Children under the age of 12 frequently suffer from respiratory infections, which is the most frequent paediatric presentation treated by primary care physicians. The majority of these infections are selflimiting illnesses, even though they frequently last longer than physicians and parents had anticipated and infrequently progress to the point where hospitalization is necessary.…”

Acute upper respiratory infections admissions in England and Wales

“…[9] Due to the direct impact on tissue oxygenation that acute respiratory infections have on children, which leads to complications and worse consequences like raised death and morbidity, these infections frequently qualify as medical emergencies. [10] Annually, more than 12 million children under 5 years old are hospitalized because of acute respiratory infections. [11] The preponderance of respiratory deaths is related to acute lower respiratory infections, but the most common type of acute respiratory infection is upper respiratory tract infections.…”

“…[9] Due to the direct impact on tissue oxygenation that acute respiratory infections have on children, which leads to complications and worse consequences like raised death and morbidity, these infections frequently qualify as medical emergencies. [10] Annually, more than 12 million children under 5 years old are hospitalized because of acute respiratory infections. [11]…”