Journal of Clinical and Translational Science (Apr 2024)

344 Understanding drivers of post-Ebola syndrome (PES) in pediatric survivors of Ebolavirus disease: characterization and the way forward.

  • Nell G Bond,
  • Emily J. Engel,
  • Lansana Kanneh,
  • Robert J. Samuels,
  • Donald S. Grant,
  • John S. Schieffelin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1017/cts.2024.306
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8
pp. 104 – 104

Abstract

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OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Ebolavirus disease survivors report persistent, debilitating health concerns dubbed Post-Ebola Syndrome (PES). Attention to PES in young survivors is lacking, we describe PES in pediatric EVD survivors in Eastern Sierra Leone. Additionally, we introduce our proposal investigating differential presentations of PES in pediatric survivors. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: EVD survivors were enrolled a median of 2.5 years after resolution of disease. Survivors were eligible if listed in a national register maintained by the Sierra Leone Association of Ebola Survivors. Household contacts (HCs) were identified by survivors. Participants were assigned into three comparison groups: pediatric (7-11), adolescent (12-17) and young adult (18-25). A self-reported symptom questionnaire, and a physical exam were conducted. Variables were clustered within organ system and compared across groups. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Pediatric survivors had lower levels of long-term sequelae compared to adolescents and young adults. Symptoms and abnormal physical exam signs increase with age. Musculoskeletal, psychiatric, ophthalmologic, and GI signs and symptoms were significantly different between groups. Pediatric survivors had significantly more persistent sequelae than age-matched HCs with no history of EVD; particularly within the cardiac/GI (p=.006) and psychiatric/neurological (p=.025) clusters. PES is heterogeneous with respect to age, calling for a deeper understanding of age-based differences. Even the youngest group of survivors experienced significantly more sequelae than HCs, highlighting the elevated symptom burden in these children over their peers. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Understanding mechanistic drivers will ultimately improve targeted treatments for PES. We will characterize symptom groups defining PES in children, determine the relationship between accelerated aging and PES in this population, and test how immune profiles associated with accelerated aging relate to the development of PES in children.