TY - JOUR
T1 - Causes of fever in Gabonese children: a cross-sectional hospital-based study
AU - Fernandes, José Francisco
AU - Held, Jana
AU - Dorn, Magdalena
AU - Lalremruata, Albert
AU - Schaumburg, Frieder
AU - Alabi, Abraham
AU - Agbanrin, Maradona Daouda
AU - Kokou, Cosme
AU - Ben Adande, Abel
AU - Esen, Meral
AU - Eibach, Daniel
AU - Adegnika, Ayola Akim
AU - Agnandji, S. lidji Todagbé
AU - Lell, Bertrand
AU - Eckerle, Isabella
AU - Henrichfreise, Beate
AU - Hogan, Benedikt
AU - May, J. rgen
AU - Kremsner, Peter Gottfried
AU - Grobusch, Martin Peter
AU - Mordmüller, Benjamin
PY - 2020/12/1
Y1 - 2020/12/1
N2 - The causes of infections in pediatric populations differ between age groups and settings, particularly in the tropics. Such differences in epidemiology may lead to misdiagnosis and ineffective empirical treatment. Here, we investigated the current spectrum of pathogens causing febrile diseases leading to pediatric hospitalization in Lambaréné, Gabon. From August 2015 to March 2016, we conducted a prospective, cross-sectional, hospital-based study in a provincial hospital. Patients were children ≤ 15 years with fever ≥ 38 °C and required hospitalization. A total of 600 febrile patients were enrolled. Malaria was the main diagnosis found in 52% (311/600) patients. Blood cultures revealed septicemia in 3% (17/593), among them four cases of typhoid fever. The other causes of fever were heterogeneously distributed between both bacteria and viruses. Severe infections identified by Lambaréné Organ Dysfunction Score (LODS) were also most often caused by malaria, but children with danger signs did not have more coinfections than others. In 6% (35/600) of patients, no pathogen was isolated. In Gabon, malaria is still the major cause of fever in children, followed by a bacterial and viral disease. Guidelines for both diagnosis and management should be tailored to the spectrum of pathogens and resources available locally.
AB - The causes of infections in pediatric populations differ between age groups and settings, particularly in the tropics. Such differences in epidemiology may lead to misdiagnosis and ineffective empirical treatment. Here, we investigated the current spectrum of pathogens causing febrile diseases leading to pediatric hospitalization in Lambaréné, Gabon. From August 2015 to March 2016, we conducted a prospective, cross-sectional, hospital-based study in a provincial hospital. Patients were children ≤ 15 years with fever ≥ 38 °C and required hospitalization. A total of 600 febrile patients were enrolled. Malaria was the main diagnosis found in 52% (311/600) patients. Blood cultures revealed septicemia in 3% (17/593), among them four cases of typhoid fever. The other causes of fever were heterogeneously distributed between both bacteria and viruses. Severe infections identified by Lambaréné Organ Dysfunction Score (LODS) were also most often caused by malaria, but children with danger signs did not have more coinfections than others. In 6% (35/600) of patients, no pathogen was isolated. In Gabon, malaria is still the major cause of fever in children, followed by a bacterial and viral disease. Guidelines for both diagnosis and management should be tailored to the spectrum of pathogens and resources available locally.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85079081365&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-58204-2
DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-58204-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 32034188
SN - 2045-2322
VL - 10
JO - Scientific reports
JF - Scientific reports
IS - 1
M1 - 2080
ER -