Viral and Bacterial Etiologies of Acute Respiratory Infections Among Children Under 5 Years in Senegal

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) represent a significant global health burden, particularly for children under five.
• Understanding the specific viral and bacterial etiologies of ARIs is crucial for effective prevention and treatment strategies in vulnerable populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of viral and bacterial pathogens causing ARIs in children under five in Senegal.
• To investigate co-infections between viral and bacterial agents in pediatric ARI cases.

Main Methods:

• Nasopharyngeal samples were collected from children under five presenting with ARIs.
• Multiplex real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used for viral identification.
• Conventional biochemical techniques were employed for bacterial isolation and identification.

Main Results:

• Adenovirus was the most prevalent virus (50%), followed by influenza virus (45.68%) and rhinovirus (40.12%).
• Streptococcus pneumoniae (17%) and Moraxella catarrhalis (15.43%) were the most common bacterial isolates.
• Viral pathogens were frequently associated with bacterial co-infections, notably with Streptococcus pneumoniae (6%).

Conclusions:

• Viral pathogens are the predominant cause of ARIs in young children in Senegal.
• Co-infections with bacteria, particularly Streptococcus pneumoniae, are common in pediatric ARI cases.
• Findings highlight the need for comprehensive diagnostic approaches to identify both viral and bacterial agents in pediatric ARIs.