Respiratory viral epidemiology in rural Kenya

Nyiro JU, Munywoki P, Kamau1 E, Agoti C, Gichuki A, Etyang T, Otieno G, Noke DJ

This paper reports the epidemiological data of respiratory viruses at nine outpatient health facilities in rural coastal Kenya as well as in hospital settings. More than half (53.7%) of participants with ARI symptoms were from children younger than 5 years. The most common respiratory viruses detected were rhinovirus, influenza virus, coronavirus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenovirus. In hospital settings with young children admitted to hospitals, the frequency of RSV and adenovirus was significantly higher, indicating they were more commonly associated with severe disease. More data tracking temporality and seasonality of viral prevalence over multiple years as well as discussion on viral co-infections would strengthen the evidence.
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Download paper of the month October 2018