Abstract
BackgroundEcuador annually has handwashing and respiratory hygiene campaigns and seasonal influenza vaccination to prevent respiratory virus illnesses but has yet to quantify disease burden and determine epidemic timing.MethodsTo identify respiratory virus burden and assess months with epidemic activity, we followed a birth cohort in northwest Ecuador during 2011–2014. Mothers brought children to the study clinic for routine checkups at ages 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 years or if children experienced any acute respiratory illness symptoms (e.g., cough, fever, or difficulty breathing); clinical care was provided free of charge. Those with medically attended acute respiratory infections (MAARIs) were tested for common respiratory viruses via real‐time reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT‐PCR).ResultsIn 2011, 2376 children aged 1–4 years (median 35 months) were enrolled in the respiratory cohort and monitored for 7017.5 child‐years (cy). The incidence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was 23.9 (95% CI 17.3–30.5), influenza 10.6 (2.4–18.8), adenoviruses 6.7 (4.6–28.0), parainfluenzas 5.0 (2.3–10.5), and rhinoviruses, bocaviruses, human metapneumoviruses, seasonal coronaviruses, and enteroviruses <3/100 cy among children aged 12–23 months and declined with age. Most (75%) influenza detections occurred April–September.ConclusionCohort children frequently had MAARIs, and while the incidence decreased rapidly among older children, more than one in five children aged 12–23 months tested positive for RSV, and one in 10 tested positive for influenza. Our findings suggest this substantial burden of influenza occurred more commonly during the winter Southern Hemisphere influenza season.
Highlights
Ecuador annually has handwashing and respiratory hygiene campaigns and seasonal influenza vaccination to prevent respiratory virus illnesses but has yet to quantify disease burden and determine epidemic timing
Much is known about respiratory viruses in temperate high-income countries; comparatively little is known from tropical low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where most of the mortality occurs
Children with medically attended acute respiratory infections (MAARIs) were more likely to be Afro-Ecuadorian than those who without MAARIs
Summary
Ecuador annually has handwashing and respiratory hygiene campaigns and seasonal influenza vaccination to prevent respiratory virus illnesses but has yet to quantify disease burden and determine epidemic timing. Mothers brought children to the study clinic for routine checkups at ages 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 years or if children experienced any acute respiratory illness symptoms (e.g., cough, fever, or difficulty breathing); clinical care was provided free of charge Those with medically attended acute respiratory infections (MAARIs) were tested for common respiratory viruses via real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). Conclusion: Cohort children frequently had MAARIs, and while the incidence decreased rapidly among older children, more than one in five children aged 12–23 months tested positive for RSV, and one in 10 tested positive for influenza Our findings suggest this substantial burden of influenza occurred more commonly during the winter Southern Hemisphere influenza season. Typically caused by respiratory viruses, are common causes of morbidity among young children and are frequently associated with pneumonia, hospitalization, and death Investment in their prevention and control depends, in part, on understanding their incidence and seasonality. Influenza epidemics can seem unpredictable and their associated disease burden poorly characterized
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
