Burden of group A rotavirus infection among children with acute diarrhoea in Lambaréné, Gabon

TL;DR

This study finds that rotavirus causes significant diarrheal disease in young children in Gabon and is linked to severe symptoms and hospitalization.

Contribution

The study quantifies rotavirus burden in Gabonese children and identifies clinical factors associated with infection.

Findings

Rotavirus caused 22% of diarrheal cases in children under 5 in Lambaréné, Gabon.

Rotavirus infection was independently linked to dehydration, vomiting, lethargy, and hospitalization.

The findings suggest integrating free rotavirus vaccination into Gabon's public health programs.

Abstract

Rotaviruses are among the most common causal pathogens of severe dehydrating diarrhoea in children. Little is known about the burden of rotavirus diarrhoea in Gabon.

This study aimed to determine the proportion of rotavirus infection in children under 5 years with diarrhoea in Lambaréné and seen at the hospital and factors associated with rotavirus infection.

The data used in this study were collected between February 2020 and February 2021 in children presenting with acute diarrhoea in the Albert Schweitzer Hospital paediatric ward.

A cross-sectional study was carried out. Stool samples were tested for rotavirus antigens using the rotavirus Standard Diagnostic (SD) BIOLINE Rota and Adeno enzyme immunoassay detection kit.

A total of 178 children were included in the study. The proportion of rotavirus infection was 22% (n = 39/178; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 16% – 29%). In the multivariate analysis, the rotavirus was independently associated with dehydration (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.65; 95% CI: 1.09–6.86), vomiting (aOR = 3.15; 95% CI: 1.29–8.25), lethargy (aOR = 3.12; 95% CI: 1.16–8.71) and hospitalisation (aOR = 4.63; 95% CI: 1.7–13.65).

Rotavirus infection was associated with severe diarrhoea and hospitalisation. This study shows the need to integrate and support free rotavirus vaccination into the expanded vaccination programme in Gabon.

This study provides evidence that could guide public health strategies and inform vaccine policies that could ultimately reduce the burden of rotavirus-associated diarrhoea in children.