Aetiology of Acute Undifferentiated Fever Among Children Under the Age of Five in Vietnam: A Prospective Study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

To investigate the aetiology of acute undifferentiated fever (AUF) among children under the age of five in Vietnam.

METHODS:

This prospective study was conducted in the Thai Binh paediatric hospital, between July 2020 and July 2021 among children with AUF at admission. Real-time PCR testing 18 microbial pathogens were done on blood samples.

RESULTS:

286 children were included, with median age of 16 months. 64.7% were male. 53.9% were positive for at least one pathogen by PCR. Enterovirus, human herpesvirus 6, adenovirus, and varicella zoster virus PCR were positive for 31.1, 12.6, 1.4, and 1.0% patients, respectively. Other pathogens tested negative by PCR. During the hospital stay, based on clinical criteria 47.2% children secondarily presented with signs of respiratory tract infections, 18.9% had hand, foot and mouth disease, 4.6% had chickenpox. 4.2% presented signs of central nervous system infections, 1.0% had dengue (antigenic test) and 1.0% had signs of gastrointestinal infection. Finally, 23.1% patients presented a fever with or without a rash and no other symptoms and ultimately received a diagnosis of AUF.

CONCLUSION:

Real-time PCR of blood is useful for detecting pathogens and diagnosing infectious causes of AUF. Further prospective studies with blood and urine culture testing and PCR investigation of not only blood but also cerebrospinal fluid, throat, and skin samples according to symptoms would be of interest to confirm the predominance of viral infections in children with AUF and to guide therapeutic options.

• Authors: Xuan Duong Tran, Van Thuan Hoang, Thi Thuy Duong Dang, Thi Phuong Vu, Minh Manh To, Trong Kiem Tran, Manh Dung Do, Duy Cuong Nguyen, Quoc Tien Nguyen, Philippe Colson, Philippe Parola, Pierre Marty, Philippe Gautret
• Journal: Journal of epidemiology and global health (J Epidemiol Glob Health) Vol. 13 Issue 2 Pg. 163-172 (Jun 2023) ISSN: 2210-6014 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 37258852 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2023. The Author(s).

Topics

• Humans
• Child
• Male
• Infant
• Female
• Prospective Studies
• Vietnam (epidemiology)
• Enterovirus Infections (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Hospitalization
• Length of Stay