Stunting Increases Influenza Virus Shedding Duration in Preschool/School-Aged Children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric infectious diseases
• Nutritional epidemiology
• Virology

Background:

• The impact of under-nutrition on influenza virus shedding duration is not well understood.
• Stunting, a marker of chronic under-nutrition, is prevalent in low- and middle-income countries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate stunting as a predictor of influenza virus shedding duration in children.
• To explore the relationship between chronic under-nutrition and influenza shedding in a Nicaraguan cohort.

Main Methods:

• Assessed shedding duration in children aged 3-9 years from the Household Influenza Cohort Study.
• Analyzed data stratified by stunting status and influenza subtype (H3N2, Influenza B).
• Utilized cycle threshold (Ct) values to assess viral clearance rates.

Main Results:

• Stunted children exhibited longer influenza virus shedding durations compared to non-stunted children.
• The association was particularly noted for H3N2 and Influenza B infections.
• Slower clearance of Influenza B viruses was observed in stunted children based on Ct values.

Conclusions:

• Chronic under-nutrition, as indicated by stunting, may extend the duration of influenza virus shedding in children.
• Prolonged shedding in stunted children could influence influenza transmission dynamics.
• Findings highlight the need to consider nutritional status in influenza control strategies, especially in high-stunting regions.