Prevalence, Pattern and Outcome of Pediatric Lassa Fever Disease (LFD) in a Tertiary Hospital, Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

The prevalence and case fatality rates of Pediatric Lassa fever disease (LFD) are not well documented. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence, pattern and outcome of Pediatric LFD. It was a prospective observational study. A total of 183 subjects that met the criteria for LFD suspects were recruited consecutively and subjected to Lassa virus PCR test. Structured questionnaire was used to collect information. Of the 183 children recruited, 24 tested positive to Lassa virus PCR, giving a positivity rate of 13.1%. Mean duration of illness at presentation was 8.54 ± 3.83 days. Fever, abdominal pain and vomiting were the three highest presenting complaints. Seven out of 24 children died giving a case fatality rate (CFR) of 29.2%. Subjects with bleeding, poor urine output, convulsions and unconsciousness were more likely to die of LFD. Positivity and CFR of LFD are high. Improved case finding and prompt treatment is advocated.

Lassa Fever among Children in Eastern Province, Sierra Leone: A 7-year Retrospective Analysis (2012–2018)

“…However, in contrast to previous reports, we found a higher proportion of our cohort to be male. 14 , 26 As with previous descriptions of pediatric LF, cough, vomiting, headache, low oxygen saturation, and temperature ≥ 38°C were common initial clinical presentations in our cohort. 2 , 14 , 19 Most of these symptoms have been described by the WHO as minor criteria for LF and in some studies as typical of “early presentation” with a good clinical prognosis when treatment with ribavirin is started early.…”

“…We report a disease positivity rate of 19.5% (57/292) among children suspected of LF and a CFR of 63% (36/57) among our LF antigen–positive cohort. The CFR reported in our pediatric cohort is much higher than the CFR of 29.2% reported in a recent pediatric cohort from Ebonyi, Nigeria, 26 and higher than the overall CFR of 15% generally reported by the WHO for hospitalized patients with LF (both adult and children). 27 Although the prevalence and CFR for pediatric LF are still not well described, it has been reported that asymptomatic or mild disease represents approximately 80% of all LF infections.…”

“…In the recent pediatric report from Ebonyi, Nigeria, only 19% of LF-positive children received ribavirin died. 26 Unfortunately, incomplete collection of data on length of symptoms before admission, duration of ribavirin administration, and justification for deferral of ribavirin does not allow us to comment on this.…”