Human Mastadenovirus Infections in Children: A Review of the Current Status in the Arab World in the Middle East and North Africa

Abstract

Human mastadenovirus (HAdV) is a non-enveloped icosahedral virus with double-stranded DNA genomes. The mortality rate of HAdV infections can reach 35.5%, while gastroenteritis HAdV infections, HAdV pneumonia, and disseminated disease tend to show a worse outcome, with rates ranging from 44.2% to 50%. In addition, HAdV can cause infections at any age but most commonly in the pediatric population, especially in young children and infants. Therefore, this review aims to assess the current status of HAdV infections among children in the Arab World, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases for publications in English were searched up to July 2022 for relevant articles. The literature search yielded a total of 21 studies, which were included in this review. Studies reporting HAdV infections in children were conducted in 17 out of the 22 countries. The average prevalence rate of HAdV infections in children was 12.7%, with average prevalence rates of 12.82% and 12.58% in the Middle East and North African countries, respectively. The highest prevalence rate (28.3%) was reported in Egypt, whereas the lowest prevalence (1.5%) was reported in Sudan. The included studies presented children with signs and symptoms of gastroenteritis, acute respiratory infection, acute diarrhea, and acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis. In conclusion, the average prevalence rate of HAdV infections in children was 12.7%, with average prevalence rates of 12.82% and 12.58% in the Middle East and North African countries, respectively. Finding the precise prevalence rate of this virus is crucial because it will guide future planning for effective disease control and the selection of particular treatment options during epidemics and special seasons.