TITLE:
Frequency and Clinical Characteristics of Astrovirus Infections in Children Aged 0 to 5 Years with Diarrhoeal Syndrome in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (2024-2025)
AUTHORS:
Dieudonné Tialla, Tarabsida Christian Yaméogo, Saleh Hisseine Hisseine, Herman Karim Sombié, Abel Pengdwendé Sorgho, Adolphe Namoano, Jeanne Françoise Kabré, Albert Théophane Yonli, Mahoukèdè Théodora Zohoncon, Jacques Simporé
KEYWORDS:
Frequency, Clinical Characteristics, Astrovirus Infections in Children, Diarrhoeal Syndrome, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Epidemiology,
Vol.16 No.1,
December
31,
2025
ABSTRACT: Acute gastroenteritis most often affects children under 5 years of age and is the cause of the second highest mortality rate in the world after pneumonia. Gastrointestinal infections are therefore a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children under five years old, particularly in developing countries. Among the viral agents responsible for acute gastroenteritis, Astroviruses are frequently detected alongside Rotavirus and Norovirus. In Burkina Faso, in the absence of commonly available diagnostic tests at primary health care facilities, management often relies on empirical treatment without confirmation of the causative agent. This underscores the need to build diagnostic capacity to improve case management and guide public health interventions. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and clinical characteristics of Astrovirus infections in children from 0 to 5 years old in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. It was a cross-sectional study that took place from August 15, 2024, to January 15, 2025. The study focused on children aged 0 to 5 years. The biological samples were stool taken from sterile jars according to the standards of ordinary examinations in the medical biology laboratory. The results were considered significant when the value of p