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Causes of fever in Gabonese children: a cross-sectional hospital-based study

José Francisco Fernandes1,2,3,4, Jana Held5,6,7, Magdalena Dorn1

  • 1Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Lambaréné, B.P: 242, Lambaréné, Gabon.

Scientific Reports
|February 9, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Malaria remains the primary cause of pediatric fever requiring hospitalization in Gabon. Bacterial and viral infections also contribute significantly, necessitating locally tailored diagnostic and treatment guidelines.

Area of Science:

  • Tropical medicine
  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Infections in children vary by age and location, especially in tropical regions.
  • Understanding these differences is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
  • Pediatric febrile illnesses in the tropics require specific epidemiological investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the spectrum of pathogens causing febrile diseases in hospitalized children in Lambaréné, Gabon.
  • To inform diagnostic and management strategies for pediatric febrile illnesses in a tropical setting.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, cross-sectional, hospital-based study conducted from August 2015 to March 2016.
  • Enrolled 600 pediatric patients (≤15 years) with fever (≥38°C) requiring hospitalization.
  • Utilized clinical data and laboratory diagnostics to identify causative pathogens.

Main Results:

  • Malaria was the leading diagnosis, affecting 52% of patients.
  • Septicemia was identified in 3% of patients, including four cases of typhoid fever.
  • Bacterial and viral infections were heterogeneously distributed; 6% of cases remained without an identified pathogen.

Conclusions:

  • Malaria is the predominant cause of pediatric fever in Gabon, followed by bacterial and viral infections.
  • Severe infections were often malaria-related, but coinfections were not more frequent in children with danger signs.
  • Diagnostic and management guidelines must be adapted to the local pathogen spectrum and available resources.

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