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Norovirus in under 5 Children in Nigeria: History, Current Epidemiology and Future Trends

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Abstract

Diarrhea is a principal cause of mortality in children, particularly those under the age of 5 years. Globally, roughly 444, 382 children die yearly due to acute gastroenteritis. Human noroviruses are the dominant cause of gastroenteritis in children under 5, killing 200,000 yearly out of 677 million cases. In Nigeria, the real burden of human noroviruses remains unknown due to inadequate research. In this regard, we conducted a narrative analysis of past works on human noroviruses in children from 2010 to 2023. We discovered a prevalence rate of human norovirus- associated gastroenteritis ranged from 3.0% to 37.6% between Lagos and Kano. We found out Lagos had the maximum seroprevalence rate of 37% between 2010 and 2023, and Kano had the third highest prevalence of 21%. We ascribed the high seroprevalence rate of human norovirus infections in Lagos and Kano to high population density and the concomitant overstretching of WASH facilities. We acknowledge the overarching sequelae of poverty to the causation of acute gastroenteritis in resource-mismanaged climes such as Nigeria. Hence, we claim that one out of ten children of under-5 age are prone to human norovirus-associated gastroenteritis in Nigeria. A study of this caliber exposes the threat of human norovirus infections in Nigeria. It reinforces the call for heightened community education, prompt management, and enhanced government intervention in the fight against acute gastroenteritis in under 5 children including human-norovirus associated gastroenteritis.

Keywords:

Diarrhea Gastroenteritis Nigeria Norovirus Seroprevalence Under 5 Years of Age

Article information

Journal

Journal of Medical Science, Biology, and Chemistry

Volume (Issue)

2(1), (2025)

Pages

157-164

Published

23-06-2025

How to Cite

Ojo, O. B., & Abideen, G. M. (2025). Norovirus in under 5 Children in Nigeria: History, Current Epidemiology and Future Trends. Journal of Medical Science, Biology, and Chemistry, 2(1), 157-164. https://doi.org/10.69739/jmsbc.v2i1.661

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