Conference abstract
Etiology and clinical characteristics of pediatric acute fever among hospitalized children in an endemic malaria transmission area of Cameroon in Central Africa
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2023:16(26).15
Mar 2023.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2023.16.26.1889
Archived on: 15 Mar 2023
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Acute pediatric fever, etiology, malaria, Douala, Cameroon
Poster
Etiology and clinical characteristics of pediatric acute fever among hospitalized children in an endemic malaria transmission area of Cameroon in Central Africa
Patricia Épée Eboumbou1,2,&, Calixte Ida Penda1,3,4, Grace Ngondi5,6, Christelle Veronique Pfoum3, Ritha Mbono Betoko1,3, Charlotte Eposse1,3, Laurent-Mireille Endale7,8, Francine Same Bebey1,9, Carole Else Eboumbou Moukoko5,10,11
1Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon, 2Pediatric Unit, Bonassama District Hospital, Douala, Cameroon, 3Pediatric Unit, Douala Laquintinie Hospital, Douala, Cameroon, 4Pediatric unit, Douala General Hospital, Cameroun, 5Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon, 6Biology Lab, Douala Laquintinie Hospital, Douala, Cameroon, 7Center for Respiratory Diseases, Douala Laquintinie Hospital, Douala, Cameroon, 8Department of medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon, 9Internal Medicine Department, Douala Laquintinie Hospital, Douala, Cameroon, 10Malaria Research Unit, Centre Pasteur Cameroon, Yaoundé, Cameroon Yaoundé, Cameroun, 11Laboratory of Parasitology, Mycology and Virology, Postgraduate Training Unit for Health Sciences, Postgraduate School for Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
&Corresponding author
Acute fever in the majority of children in resource-limited countries is attributable to malaria and often treated without laboratory evidence. The aim of the study was to characterize acute pediatric infectious fevers (APIF) in the pediatric department of the Douala Laquintinie Hospital. A cross-sectional study was conducted among children aged 2 months to 15 years who were admitted with an acute fever (anal temperature ≥ 37.5°C less than 5 days in infants and 7 days in adolescents). 200 children were included and followed up during their hospitalization. The mean age was 3.7 (IQR: 1-4.6) years. More than 3 out of 5 patients (62.5%) came from another health facility and anemia accounted for 29% of the reasons for consultation associated with fever. The main symptoms were vomiting (28%), cough (26%), convulsions (21%), and diarrhea (20%). Skin-mucosal pallor (43.0%) and hepatosplenomegaly (26.0%) were the most common physical signs encountered. Among febrile children, 116/200 (58%) were infected with at least 1 pathogen, and 1/200 (0.5%) had a fever of unknown etiology. Malaria (53% vs 80.5% presumptive) associated with anemia (95.3% of cases) was the most common pathology associated with APIF, followed by pneumonia (19.5%), meningitis (11.5%) and urinary tract infections (10% vs 54.5% presumptive). Malaria was over-diagnosed on admission and over-treated as well as urinary tract infection. A better understanding of common pathogens carriage, a better capacity for improved diagnosis, and a better applied clinical algorithm for febrile illnesses in children are needed.
Etiology and clinical characteristics of pediatric acute fever among hospitalized children in an endemic malaria transmission area of Cameroon in Central Africa
Patricia Épée Eboumbou1,2,&, Calixte Ida Penda1,3,4, Grace Ngondi5,6, Christelle Veronique Pfoum3, Ritha Mbono Betoko1,3, Charlotte Eposse1,3, Laurent-Mireille Endale7,8, Francine Same Bebey1,9, Carole Else Eboumbou Moukoko5,10,11
1Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon, 2Pediatric Unit, Bonassama District Hospital, Douala, Cameroon, 3Pediatric Unit, Douala Laquintinie Hospital, Douala, Cameroon, 4Pediatric unit, Douala General Hospital, Cameroun, 5Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon, 6Biology Lab, Douala Laquintinie Hospital, Douala, Cameroon, 7Center for Respiratory Diseases, Douala Laquintinie Hospital, Douala, Cameroon, 8Department of medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon, 9Internal Medicine Department, Douala Laquintinie Hospital, Douala, Cameroon, 10Malaria Research Unit, Centre Pasteur Cameroon, Yaoundé, Cameroon Yaoundé, Cameroun, 11Laboratory of Parasitology, Mycology and Virology, Postgraduate Training Unit for Health Sciences, Postgraduate School for Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
&Corresponding author
Acute fever in the majority of children in resource-limited countries is attributable to malaria and often treated without laboratory evidence. The aim of the study was to characterize acute pediatric infectious fevers (APIF) in the pediatric department of the Douala Laquintinie Hospital. A cross-sectional study was conducted among children aged 2 months to 15 years who were admitted with an acute fever (anal temperature ≥ 37.5°C less than 5 days in infants and 7 days in adolescents). 200 children were included and followed up during their hospitalization. The mean age was 3.7 (IQR: 1-4.6) years. More than 3 out of 5 patients (62.5%) came from another health facility and anemia accounted for 29% of the reasons for consultation associated with fever. The main symptoms were vomiting (28%), cough (26%), convulsions (21%), and diarrhea (20%). Skin-mucosal pallor (43.0%) and hepatosplenomegaly (26.0%) were the most common physical signs encountered. Among febrile children, 116/200 (58%) were infected with at least 1 pathogen, and 1/200 (0.5%) had a fever of unknown etiology. Malaria (53% vs 80.5% presumptive) associated with anemia (95.3% of cases) was the most common pathology associated with APIF, followed by pneumonia (19.5%), meningitis (11.5%) and urinary tract infections (10% vs 54.5% presumptive). Malaria was over-diagnosed on admission and over-treated as well as urinary tract infection. A better understanding of common pathogens carriage, a better capacity for improved diagnosis, and a better applied clinical algorithm for febrile illnesses in children are needed.
