Estimating the prevalence of symptomatic and asymptomatic dengue fever among adults in the Central Health Region - Burkina Faso: a protocol for field study

Abstract

Abstract Background: Dengue fever is misdiagnosed as malaria in Africa and underreported. In Burkina Faso, specific data on dengue fever are lacking on adults. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of symptomatic and asymptomatic dengue fever and to assess their determinants among adults over two years in the Central Health Region of Burkina Faso. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study will be conducted with repetitive quantitative data collection in 2022 and 2023. It will include adults suspected of dengue from health facilities of the 5 districts - Central Health Region, and adult contacts of dengue probable cases from households. Participants will undergo rapid diagnosis tests for dengue fever and malaria, with dengue-positive cases to be confirmed by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction. The main objectives are: i) To compare the prevalence of symptomatic dengue fever among adults suspected of dengue between 2022 and 2023. ii) To compare the prevalence of symptomatic and asymptomatic dengue fever among contact adults between 2022 and 2023. iii) To evaluate the sociodemographic and bio-clinical determinants of symptomatic dengue fever among suspected cases. iv) To evaluate the sociodemographic, bio-clinical, and environmental determinants of asymptomatic dengue fever among the contacts. Conclusions: This study will generate comprehensive data on symptomatic and asymptomatic dengue fever among adults in Burkina Faso. Such data will drive strategies in responding to dengue epidemics in the country.