Epidemiology of Pediatric Astrovirus Gastroenteritis in a Nicaraguan Birth Cohort
Abstract
Abstract Background Astrovirus is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in children worldwide. However, few prospective studies have analyzed astrovirus in community-dwelling pediatric populations in low- and middle-income countries. Methods We assessed the incidence, risk factors, clinical characteristics, genotypes, viral coinfections, and time distribution of astrovirus gastroenteritis in 443 healthy Nicaraguan children born in 2017 to 2018 who were followed for 36 months. Children were recruited from hospitals and birth records in an economically diverse neighborhood of León city. Astrovirus-positive episodes and genotypes were identified from stool with reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing. Results Of 1708 total specimens tested, 80 children (18%) experienced at least 1 astrovirus episode, and 9 experienced repeat episodes, mostly during the rainy season (May–October). Initial astrovirus episodes were not associated with a lowered risk against future episodes. In exploratory analyses, home toilets were associated with a lower risk of future astrovirus episodes (hazard ratio, 0.19; 95% CI, .04–.91). Human astrovirus 5 episodes, representing 15% of all typed episodes, were associated with longer diarrhea and more symptomatic rotavirus coinfections. Conclusions Astrovirus was a common cause of gastroenteritis in this cohort, and future studies should clarify the role of astrovirus genotype in clinical infection severity.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 443 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Patient-Centered Pharmaceutical Design to Improve Acceptability of Medicines: Similarities and Differences in Paediatric and Geriatric Populations
- Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for irritable bowel syndrome 2020
- Phase 2b Study of Pimodivir (JNJ-63623872) as Monotherapy or in Combination With Oseltamivir for Treatment of Acute Uncomplicated Seasonal Influenza A: TOPAZ Trial
- Gastrointestinal manifestations in COVID-19
- COVID-19 and Gastrointestinal Disease: Implications for the Gastroenterologist
- Persistent gut barrier damage and commensal bacterial influx following eradication of Giardia infection in mice
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.