1. Risk factors for acquisition of meningococcal carriage in the African meningitis belt.
- Author
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Cooper LV, Robson A, Trotter CL, Aseffa A, Collard JM, Daugla DM, Diallo A, Hodgson A, Jusot JF, Omotara B, Sow S, Hassan-King M, Manigart O, Nascimento M, Woukeu A, Chandramohan D, Borrow R, Maiden MCJ, Greenwood B, and Stuart JM
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Africa South of the Sahara epidemiology, Aged, Anti-Bacterial Agents therapeutic use, Child, Child, Preschool, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Infant, Logistic Models, Male, Meningitis, Meningococcal microbiology, Middle Aged, Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup A growth & development, Pharyngitis, Risk Factors, Smoke adverse effects, Smoking adverse effects, Young Adult, Carrier State microbiology, Meningitis, Meningococcal etiology, Respiratory Tract Infections complications, Seasons
- Abstract
Objective: To investigate potential risk factors for acquisition in seven countries of the meningitis belt., Methods: Households were followed up every 2 weeks for 2 months, then monthly for a further 4 months. Pharyngeal swabs were collected from all available household members at each visit and questionnaires completed. Risks of acquisition over the whole study period and for each visit were analysed by a series of logistic regressions., Results: Over the course of the study, acquisition was higher in: (i) 5-to 14-year olds, as compared with those 30 years or older (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.4-9.9); (ii) smokers (OR 3.6, 95% CI 0.98-13); and (iii) those exposed to wood smoke at home (OR 2.6 95% CI 1.3-5.6). The risk of acquisition from one visit to the next was higher in those reporting a sore throat during the dry season (OR 3.7, 95% CI 2.0-6.7) and lower in those reporting antibiotic use (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.03-0.56)., Conclusions: Acquisition of meningococcal carriage peaked in school age children. Recent symptoms of sore throat during the dry season, but not during the rainy season, were associated with a higher risk of acquisition. Upper respiratory tract infections may be an important driver of epidemics in the meningitis belt., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
- Published
- 2019
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