Volker H Hackert1, Nicole H T M Dukers-Muijrers, Inge H M van Loo, Marjolijn Wegdam-Blans, Carlijn Somers, Christian J P A Hoebe. 1. From the *Department of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases, and Environmental Health, South Limburg Public Health Service, Geleen, The Netherlands; †Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands; and ‡Department of Medical Microbiology, Laboratory for Pathology and Medical Microbiology (PAMM), Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Q fever is rarely reported in children/adolescents. Although lower reporting rates are commonly attributed to milder disease and subsequent underdiagnosis in infected children/adolescents, pertinent evidence is scarce. We present data from a large, well-defined single-point source outbreak of Q fever to fill this gap. METHODS: We compared (A) Q fever testing and notification rates in children/adolescents who were 0-19 years of age with those in adults 20+ years of age in October 2009; (B) serological attack rates of acute Q fever in children/adolescents with the rates in adults after on-source exposure on the outbreak farm's premises; (C) incidence of Q fever infection in children/adolescents with that in adults after off-source exposure in the municipality located closest to the farm. RESULTS: (A) Children/adolescents represented 19.3% (59,404 of 307,348) of the study area population, 12.1% (149 of 1217) of all subjects tested in October 2009 and 4.3% (11 of 253) of notified laboratory-confirmed community cases. (B) Serological attack rate of acute Q fever in children with on-source exposure was 71% (12 of 17), similar to adults [68% (40 of 59)]. (C) Incidence of infection in children/adolescents after community (off-source) exposure was 4.5% (13 of 287) versus 11.0% (12 of 109) in adults (adjusted odds ratio: 0.36; 95% confidence interval: 0.16-0.84; P = 0.02). No children/adolescents reported clinical symptoms. Proportion of notified infections was significantly lower in children/adolescents (2.5%) than in adults (10.4%; risk ratio: 0.26; 95% confidence interval: 0.08-0.80, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Notified Q fever was less frequent in children/adolescents than in adults. Although underrecognition contributed to this phenomenon, lower rates of infection in children after community exposure played an unexpected major role. On-source (presumed high-dose) exposure, by contrast, was associated with high serological and clinical attack rates not only in adults but also in children/adolescents. Our findings allow for improved age-specific clinical and public health risk assessment in Q fever outbreaks.
BACKGROUND: Q fever is rarely reported in children/adolescents. Although lower reporting rates are commonly attributed to milder disease and subsequent underdiagnosis in infected children/adolescents, pertinent evidence is scarce. We present data from a large, well-defined single-point source outbreak of Q fever to fill this gap. METHODS: We compared (A) Q fever testing and notification rates in children/adolescents who were 0-19 years of age with those in adults 20+ years of age in October 2009; (B) serological attack rates of acute Q fever in children/adolescents with the rates in adults after on-source exposure on the outbreak farm's premises; (C) incidence of Q fever infection in children/adolescents with that in adults after off-source exposure in the municipality located closest to the farm. RESULTS: (A) Children/adolescents represented 19.3% (59,404 of 307,348) of the study area population, 12.1% (149 of 1217) of all subjects tested in October 2009 and 4.3% (11 of 253) of notified laboratory-confirmed community cases. (B) Serological attack rate of acute Q fever in children with on-source exposure was 71% (12 of 17), similar to adults [68% (40 of 59)]. (C) Incidence of infection in children/adolescents after community (off-source) exposure was 4.5% (13 of 287) versus 11.0% (12 of 109) in adults (adjusted odds ratio: 0.36; 95% confidence interval: 0.16-0.84; P = 0.02). No children/adolescents reported clinical symptoms. Proportion of notified infections was significantly lower in children/adolescents (2.5%) than in adults (10.4%; risk ratio: 0.26; 95% confidence interval: 0.08-0.80, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Notified Q fever was less frequent in children/adolescents than in adults. Although underrecognition contributed to this phenomenon, lower rates of infection in children after community exposure played an unexpected major role. On-source (presumed high-dose) exposure, by contrast, was associated with high serological and clinical attack rates not only in adults but also in children/adolescents. Our findings allow for improved age-specific clinical and public health risk assessment in Q fever outbreaks.
Authors: Ashley L Greiner; Saithip Bhengsri; Matthieu Million; Sophie Edouard; Somsak Thamthitiwat; Kevin Clarke; Gilbert J Kersh; Christopher J Gregory; Didier Raoult; Philippe Parola Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2018-01 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Volker H Hackert; Christian J P A Hoebe; Nicole Dukers-Muijrers; Thomas Krafft; Boris Kauhl; Klaus Henning; Wolfram Karges; Lisa Sprague; Heinrich Neubauer; Sascha Al Dahouk Journal: Transbound Emerg Dis Date: 2020-02-20 Impact factor: 5.005
Authors: Sruti Pisharody; Matthew P Rubach; Manuela Carugati; William L Nicholson; Jamie L Perniciaro; Holly M Biggs; Michael J Maze; Julian T Hertz; Jo E B Halliday; Kathryn J Allan; Blandina T Mmbaga; Wilbrod Saganda; Bingileki F Lwezaula; Rudovick R Kazwala; Sarah Cleaveland; Venance P Maro; John A Crump Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2021-12-20 Impact factor: 2.345