Virological and clinical characterizations of respiratory infections in hospitalized children

Abstract

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and seasonal distribution of viral etiological agents and to compare their clinical manifestations and disease severity, including single and co infections.MethodsMultiplex reverse-transcription PCR was performed for the detection of viruses in nasopharyngeal aspirat. Disease severity was grouped using a categorization index as very mild/mild, and moderate/severe. Clinical and laboratory characteristics of hospitalized children with viral respiratory tract infection were analyzed.ResultsViral pathogens were detected in 103/155 (66.5%) of patients. In order of frequency, identified pathogens were respiratory syncytial virus (32.0%), adenovirus (26.2%), parainfluenza viruses type 1–4 (19.4%), rhinovirus (18.4%), influenza A and B (12.6%), human metapneumovirus (12.6%), coronavirus (2.9%), and bocavirus (0.9%). Coinfections were present in 21 samples. Most of the children had very mild (38.8%) and mild disease (37.9%). Severity of illness was not worse with coinfections. The most common discharge diagnoses were "URTI" with or without LRTI/asthma (n=58). Most viruses exhibited strong seasonal patterns. Leukocytosis (22.2%) and neutrophilia (36.6%) were most commonly detected in patients with adenovirus and rhinovirus (p<0.05). Monocytosis was the most remarkable finding in the patients (n=48, 53.3%), especially in patients with adenovirus (p<0.05).ConclusionsRSV and RhV were associated with higher severity of illness in hospitalized children. RSV found to account for half of LRTI hospitalizations. In AdV and FluA and B infections, fever lasted longer than in other viruses. Coinfections were detected in 21 of the patients. The presence of coinfections was not associated with increased disease severity.

Molecular Diagnosis of Human Adenovirus in Children with Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

“…This method has been used by others for the detection the hexon gene region of Adenovirus genome [7,14,15]. Similar findings have been reported by Helen Sarantis et al, who tested hexon gene (HVR-7) that was able to detect all serotypes of human adenoviruses known at that time with high sensitivity [17]. The statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between groups (X 2 = 11.064; P<0.01), where the viral DNA was detected in approximately a third (28.08%) of the total study groups (Table 3-1).…”

“…The statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between groups (X 2 = 11.064; P<0.01), where the viral DNA was detected in approximately a third (28.08%) of the total study groups (Table 3-1). The frequency of HAdVs positive cases in our study was higher for most studies than that reported in the Middle East such as Turkey 26.2% [17], Iran 14.4-22% [18][19][20], Israel 18.3% [21], Saudi Arabia 17.4% [22]. Other parts of the world reported different values like Kenya 14% [23], Korea 10.3% [24], Australia 7.3% [25], and Peru 6.2% [26].…”

C-Reactive Protein and Respiratory Viral Infection

“…In contrast with the findings of some previous studies [25][26][27], co-infections in the current study were not more severe than single infections [28][29][30]. In addition, consistent with our study, a study by Guo et al [31].…”

Human bocavirus respiratory infection in infants in Córdoba, Argentina

“…7,8 This variability could be due to normal oscillations of the virus circulation, with periodic, higher magnitude outbreaks; the world bibliography reflects divergences based on the region and years analyzed. 5,6 Although possible differences related to sample collection procedures (swab tests or, nasal or nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens) and the methodology used (traditional, real-time PCR) should be considered, local data regarding children hospitalized because of an ARI were obtained based on the detection of the viral genome by traditional PCR in nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens.…”