Burden of influenza among hospitalized febrile children in Ghana

BACKGROUND: Influenza surveillance data from Africa indicate a substantial disease burden with high mortality. However, local influenza data from district hospitals with limited laboratory facilities are still scarce.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the frequency and seasonal distribution of influenza among hospitalized febrile children in a rural hospital in Ghana and to describe differential diagnoses to other severe febrile infections.

METHODS: Between January 2014 and April 2015, all children with a temperature of ≥38°C admitted to a district hospital in Ghana were screened for influenza A and B by RT-PCR and differentiated to subtypes A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2). Malaria microscopy and blood cultures were performed for each patient.

RESULTS: A total of 1063 children with a median age of 2 years (IQR: 1-4 years) were recruited. Of those, 271 (21%) were classified as severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and 47 (4%) were positive for influenza, namely 26 (55%) influenza B, 15 (32%) A(H1N1)pdm09, and 6 (13%) A(H3N2) cases. Influenza predominantly occurred in children aged 3-5 years and was more frequently detected in the major rainy season (OR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.47-6.19) during the first half of the year. Two (4%) and seven (15%) influenza-positive children were co-diagnosed with an invasive bloodstream infection or malaria, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Influenza contributes substantially to the burden of hospitalized febrile children in Ghana being strongly dependent on age and corresponds with the major rainy season during the first half-year.