Ebola Virus Disease in Children, Sierra Leone, 2014–2015

Virus kinetics and biochemical derangements among children with Ebolavirus disease

“…This is similar to previous reports in which the case fatality rate in children was 42−65%. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9]28 Relative to adults in our study, the children had similar mortality, despite a higher VL. However, previous studies have shown that young age is associated with increased mortality, especially in children under five years of age.…”

“…Our findings are similar to a previous paediatric study by Fitzgerald et al, who reported similar risk factors for mortality. 5 VL, ALT and CRP were statistically significant independent predictors of death in a multivariable Cox proportional hazard model. Adult studies have reported that increased VL, AST, ALT, CK, bilirubin, creatinine, urea, INR, and PTT were associated with mortality.…”

“…Fitzgerald et al, in a study of 282 patients under 13 years of age, reported laboratory values on 35 (12%), including blood count, electrolytes, kidney and liver parameters, and inflammatory markers and found that children frequently had elevated leukocytes, derangement of liver and kidney function, as well as hypoglycaemia. 5 McElroy et al performed several multiplex assays to measure the concentrations of 55 serum analytes among 55 paediatric patients (≤ 21 years old) with Sudan ebolavirus and found no age-specific associations between serum chemistry results and mortality. 16 Multiple studies have reported laboratory values in both adults and children; however, paediatric and adult patients were not considered separately in these studies.…”