Predictors of severity and prolonged hospital stay of viral acute respiratory infections (ARI) among children under five years in Burkina Faso, 2016–2019

Abstract

Abstract Background Viruses are the leading etiology of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in children. However, there is limited knowledge on drivers of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases involving viruses. We aimed to identify factors associated with severity and prolonged hospitalization of viral SARI among children 7 days). Conclusion Younger age, malnutrition, codetection of Klebsiella pneumoniae, and illness during the rainy season were associated with very severe cases and prolonged hospitalization of SARI involving viruses in children under five years. These findings emphasize the need for preventive actions targeting these factors in young children.

Keywords

• Acute respiratory infections
• Severity
• Prolonged length of stay
• Predictors
• Children under five
• Burkina Faso