A Retrospective Study on the Topographical and Etiological Aspects of Acute Flaccid Paralysis in Children in Kenitra Province, Morocco http://.www.doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v7i2.8

Abstract

The poliovirus was declared extinct in 1988. In Morocco, the most recent case of wild poliovirus (WPV) was reported in 1989. From 1994 to 2018, Kenitra's polio topographical and etiological epidemiology were described using WHO-recommended polio surveillance criteria. This retrospective descriptive study was conducted following WHO guidelines to examine the topographic and etiological factors that contribute to acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in Kénitra, Morocco. Patients were recruited from several communities in the Kenitra province throughout a 25-year period, from January 1, 1994, to December 31, 2018. From 1994 to 2018, 76 cases of AFP were reported. The children ranged in age from 3 months to 14 years old; 52% were under the age of 5, and 58.67% were boys. At the time of paralysis onset, 57.33% of children had a fever, and 16% had asymmetric paralysis. The most common diagnosis was Guillain-Barré syndrome (59%), and 72% of sick children received more than three doses of the polio vaccine. Good coverage was obtained due to the national immunization program, as evidenced by the vaccination status. All cases were classified as non-polio AFP. There were no reports of poliovirus, and the vaccination status suggests that there was enough coverage due to the national immunization program. Morocco is vulnerable to the reintroduction of wild viruses due to its geographical location and constant intake of immigrants. This necessitates ongoing vaccination and surveillance efforts until the disease is declared eradicated.