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. 2017 Nov;11(6):497-501.
doi: 10.1111/irv.12507. Epub 2017 Oct 27.

Burden of influenza among hospitalized febrile children in Ghana

Benedikt Hogan  1   2 , Luise Ammer  1   2 , Marlow Zimmermann  1 , Tabea Binger  3 , Ralf Krumkamp  1   2 , Nimako Sarpong  3 , Theresa Rettig  4 , Denise Dekker  1   2 , Benno Kreuels  2   5 , Lisa Reigl  1   2 , Kennedy G Boahen  3 , Charity Wiafe  3 , Yaw Adu-Sarkodie  6 , Ellis Owusu-Dabo  3   7 , Jürgen May  1   2 , Daniel Eibach  1
Affiliations

Burden of influenza among hospitalized febrile children in Ghana

Benedikt Hogan et al. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2017 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Influenza surveillance data from Africa indicate a substantial disease burden with high mortality. However, local influenza data from district hospitals with limited laboratory facilities are still scarce.

Objectives: To identify the frequency and seasonal distribution of influenza among hospitalized febrile children in a rural hospital in Ghana and to describe differential diagnoses to other severe febrile infections.

Methods: Between January 2014 and April 2015, all children with a temperature of ≥38°C admitted to a district hospital in Ghana were screened for influenza A and B by RT-PCR and differentiated to subtypes A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2). Malaria microscopy and blood cultures were performed for each patient.

Results: A total of 1063 children with a median age of 2 years (IQR: 1-4 years) were recruited. Of those, 271 (21%) were classified as severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and 47 (4%) were positive for influenza, namely 26 (55%) influenza B, 15 (32%) A(H1N1)pdm09, and 6 (13%) A(H3N2) cases. Influenza predominantly occurred in children aged 3-5 years and was more frequently detected in the major rainy season (OR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.47-6.19) during the first half of the year. Two (4%) and seven (15%) influenza-positive children were co-diagnosed with an invasive bloodstream infection or malaria, respectively.

Conclusion: Influenza contributes substantially to the burden of hospitalized febrile children in Ghana being strongly dependent on age and corresponds with the major rainy season during the first half-year.

Keywords: Africa; bacteremia; children; fever; influenza; malaria.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Influenza and Severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases per study month. Proportions of both influenza and SARI cases were calculated using the total number of recruited patients per study month. Influenza was further defined on subtype level: namely influenza B, influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, and influenza A(H3N2)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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