Chikungunya in Infants and Children: Is Pathogenesis Increasing?

Area of Science:

• * Virology
• * Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• * Epidemiology

Background:

• * Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) initially presented as dengue-like illness with arthralgia in Africa and febrile hemorrhagic disease in Asia.
• * Post-2005 Reunion Island emergence, severe central nervous system (CNS) consequences via vertical/perinatal transmission were noted.
• * Over a decade, severe CHIKF manifestations and sequelae in infants and neonates increased globally.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To review the global reemergence of Chikungunya fever (CHIKF).
• * To describe CHIKF syndromes in infants and children.
• * To connect CHIKF manifestations to specific CHIKV lineages.

Main Methods:

• * Literature review of CHIKF outbreaks and case reports.
• * Analysis of CHIKV viral lineages and genetic motifs.
• * Correlation of clinical manifestations with viral characteristics.

Main Results:

• * CHIKF syndromes have varied globally, particularly in infants and neonates.
• * Specific CHIKF manifestations were associated with particular CHIKV viral lineages.
• * Genetic motifs within viral lineages correlate with disease severity.

Conclusions:

• * CHIKF reemergence presents significant risks to infants and children.
• * Severe CHIKF in the neonates and infants may be linked to novel CHIKV lineages.
• * Understanding viral evolution is crucial for managing pediatric CHIKF.