Seasonality and clinical characteristics of influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory infection in children under 5 years in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh (2021-2023).

OBJECTIVES

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) such as influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) are leading causes of morbidity among children aged under 5 years (under-5) in Bangladesh. In Cox's Bazar, the ARI burden is compounded by high population density and seasonal monsoons; yet under-5-specific evidence on virus seasonality and clinical features remains limited. This study aimed to assess the seasonality and clinical characteristics of ILI and SARI among children under-5 in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, between 2021 and 2023, with additional analyses to support interpretation of detection findings.

METHODS

Prospective hospitalized based surveillance was carried out from January 2021 up to December 2023 at the District Head Quarter Hospital Cox's Bazar. Children under-5 with ILI (fever ≥38°C and a cough, symptom onset ≤10 days) or SARI (ILI with hospitalization or severe manifestations) were recruited. Nasopharyngeal and throat swabs were processed for testing by a multiplex real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for influenza A/B (H3N2/Victoria), SARS-CoV-2, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Demographic, clinical, and geographic information was recorded. Analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

Among 968 children (median age 9 months; 60.7% ILI, 39.3% SARI), pathogens were detected in 12.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.4-14.7%). Among the limited pathogens tested, influenza comprised most positive cases (65%); A(H3N2) was identified in 5.0%, and B(Victoria) in 3.1%. SARS-CoV-2 and RSV were detected only occasionally (2.5% and 1.9%, respectively). The monsoon season (June-September) was the peak detection period, with A(H3N2) being dominant in June and July and B(Victoria) dominating from August to September. Positivity was higher among SARI cases (25.8%) than ILI cases (16.4%) in the months of peak activity. Clinical severity indicators associated with detection were SARI (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.42, 95% CI: 2.28-5.13), breathlessness (aOR 2.87, 95% CI: 1.84-4.48), age ≥6 months to <2 years (aOR 1.92, 95% CI:1.21-3.05) and fever ≥101.5°F (aOR 1.68, 95% CI: 100-276). The highest positivity rate observed was 24.0%. Most (87.6%) were negative for the tested pathogens.

CONCLUSION

Among the viruses tested, influenza contributes to seasonal under-5 ARIs in Cox's Bazar, but the large negative proportion indicates that most cases were caused by pathogens not included in the limited testing panel (e.g. rhinovirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza, or bacteria). Markers of severity and age are associated with influenza positivity. Expanded multiplex testing and surveillance are required to inform vaccination and interventions in this high burden setting.