Risk Factors and Hospitalizations Associated with Pediatric Adenovirus and Rotavirus Infections in Northern Lebanon

<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a major contributor to pediatric morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is a scarcity of data on AGE in North Lebanon, a region profoundly affected by the Syrian refugee crisis and water sanitation issues. This study exam...

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Main Authors: Sara Khalife, Marwan Osman, Sara Moubayed, Issmat I. Kassem, Dima El Safadi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Medicina
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/2/296
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author Sara Khalife
Marwan Osman
Sara Moubayed
Issmat I. Kassem
Dima El Safadi
author_facet Sara Khalife
Marwan Osman
Sara Moubayed
Issmat I. Kassem
Dima El Safadi
author_sort Sara Khalife
collection DOAJ
description <i>Background and Objectives</i>: Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a major contributor to pediatric morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is a scarcity of data on AGE in North Lebanon, a region profoundly affected by the Syrian refugee crisis and water sanitation issues. This study examines the prevalence, risk factors, and seasonal variations in adenovirus and rotavirus infections in children with AGE in North Lebanon. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2022 to August 2023 on 400 children (1 month to 5 years old) with AGE that were admitted to pediatric departments of three private hospitals in North Lebanon. Stool samples were collected and tested using chromatographic immunoassays. Comprehensive demographic and clinical data were collected and analyzed. <i>Results</i>: Rotavirus was the most frequent viral agent (28%), followed by adenovirus (12.3%) and mixed infections (5.5%). Rotavirus vaccination demonstrated a significant protective effect, and lower infection rates were associated with breastfeeding and consumption of bottled water (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Higher infection rates correlated with lower levels of maternal education and household incomes (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Malnutrition significantly increased susceptibility to rotavirus infections (<i>p</i> < 0.001). <i>Conclusions</i>: This study emphasized the urgent need for targeted public health interventions in North Lebanon to mitigate the burden of rotavirus and adenovirus-induced acute gastroenteritis among children.
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spelling doaj-art-e5a9d75becb541cb9b0101c37ec65b8a2025-08-20T02:44:46ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442025-02-0161229610.3390/medicina61020296Risk Factors and Hospitalizations Associated with Pediatric Adenovirus and Rotavirus Infections in Northern LebanonSara Khalife0Marwan Osman1Sara Moubayed2Issmat I. Kassem3Dima El Safadi4Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University, Tripoli 11-5020, LebanonDepartment of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USADepartment of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University, Tripoli 11-5020, LebanonCenter for Food Safety, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Georgia, 1109 Experiment Street, Griffin, GA 30223-1797, USADepartment of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L7 8XZ, UK<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a major contributor to pediatric morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is a scarcity of data on AGE in North Lebanon, a region profoundly affected by the Syrian refugee crisis and water sanitation issues. This study examines the prevalence, risk factors, and seasonal variations in adenovirus and rotavirus infections in children with AGE in North Lebanon. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2022 to August 2023 on 400 children (1 month to 5 years old) with AGE that were admitted to pediatric departments of three private hospitals in North Lebanon. Stool samples were collected and tested using chromatographic immunoassays. Comprehensive demographic and clinical data were collected and analyzed. <i>Results</i>: Rotavirus was the most frequent viral agent (28%), followed by adenovirus (12.3%) and mixed infections (5.5%). Rotavirus vaccination demonstrated a significant protective effect, and lower infection rates were associated with breastfeeding and consumption of bottled water (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Higher infection rates correlated with lower levels of maternal education and household incomes (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Malnutrition significantly increased susceptibility to rotavirus infections (<i>p</i> < 0.001). <i>Conclusions</i>: This study emphasized the urgent need for targeted public health interventions in North Lebanon to mitigate the burden of rotavirus and adenovirus-induced acute gastroenteritis among children.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/2/296acute gastroenteritisrotavirusadenoviruspediatric infectionsrisk factorsclean water
spellingShingle Sara Khalife
Marwan Osman
Sara Moubayed
Issmat I. Kassem
Dima El Safadi
Risk Factors and Hospitalizations Associated with Pediatric Adenovirus and Rotavirus Infections in Northern Lebanon
Medicina
acute gastroenteritis
rotavirus
adenovirus
pediatric infections
risk factors
clean water
title Risk Factors and Hospitalizations Associated with Pediatric Adenovirus and Rotavirus Infections in Northern Lebanon
title_full Risk Factors and Hospitalizations Associated with Pediatric Adenovirus and Rotavirus Infections in Northern Lebanon
title_fullStr Risk Factors and Hospitalizations Associated with Pediatric Adenovirus and Rotavirus Infections in Northern Lebanon
title_full_unstemmed Risk Factors and Hospitalizations Associated with Pediatric Adenovirus and Rotavirus Infections in Northern Lebanon
title_short Risk Factors and Hospitalizations Associated with Pediatric Adenovirus and Rotavirus Infections in Northern Lebanon
title_sort risk factors and hospitalizations associated with pediatric adenovirus and rotavirus infections in northern lebanon
topic acute gastroenteritis
rotavirus
adenovirus
pediatric infections
risk factors
clean water
url https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/2/296
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