Surveillance of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children Aged 0-5 years in Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract

Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) are, after malaria, the second most common cause of consultation of children in health facilities in Cote d'Ivoire. Viral etiology points to Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) as the primary cause of these acute respiratory infections. In order to better assist health workers in diagnosing the virus, a study on the epidemiology, seasonality and clinical signs associated with RSV acute respiratory infections was conducted over four consecutive years. During these years, nasopharyngeal samples were collected from 5648 children aged 0-5 years, in different geographical areas of the country, following a survey form for analysis by real-time PCR, to detect the virus and describe its epidemiological characteristics. Our results revealed 564 (9.98%) RSV positive children. A number of 181 (32.09%) were positive in inpatients, and 383 (67.91%) in outpatients. The 0-12 month age group was the most affected with 51.95% of positive cases. Cumulative monthly RSV activity for the 4 years of the study was relatively lower during the months of January to March and higher during the months of May to September. This distribution of RSV was superimposed on rainfall during these study years. Our work has also linked RSV positivity to the presence of clinical signs, including fever, cough, diarrhoea and vomiting. These results give scientific tools to health personnel to better orient their diagnosis and also a better rational use in the prescription of medication, notably the stopping of unjustified antibiotic therapy.