Human Parvovirus B19-Induced Anaemia among Febrile In-Patient Paediatrics in Benin Metropolis, Edo State, Nigeria

Human Parvovirus B19 (B19V) is a highly contagious pathogen that causes amongst others transient aplastic anaemia in infected individuals. This study investigated febrile inpatient paediatrics for the presence of human parvovirus B19 infection. In this cross-sectional study, 150 consenting febrile paediatrics (90 males and 60 females) admitted into the paediatric hospital wards were recruited. The sera obtained from the participants were screened for B19V IgM antibodies. The model (forest plot) explained a 9% prevalence among the study participants. The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis predicted seropositivity. For gender, (OR=1.74, 95% CI: 0.52–5.84, p=0.370) indicated no significant association between gender and seropositivity. The participants in the "Above 4" age group were 1.134 times more likely to be infected (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 0.05–24.25, p = 0.936). At the kindergarten level, (OR=1.41, 95% CI: 0.07–30.29, p = 0.826), suggesting no significant impact on seropositivity. Severe anaemic status (OR=1.41, 95% CI: 0.07–30.29, p = 0.826), showing insignificant likelihood of seropositivity. Overall, all p-values exceeded 0.05, and CI for all OR included 1. This study’s results highlight the importance of B19V as a potential causative agent of anaemia and help to understand the epidemiology of B19V among children.