Prevalence and Concomitancy of Respiratory Viruses in Children with Acute Respiratory Tract Infections

Abstract

Respiratory tract infections (RTI) are among the most commonly seen infections in children across the world, with the highest rate of morbidity. Viruses are known to be the primary agent in these infections and mostly lead to upper RTIs. The most commonly seen viral agents of RTIs may be listed as rhinoviruses (HRV), influenza, parainfluenza (PIV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus, and enteroviruses.

In this study, prediagnosed children with acute RTI between January 2013 and May 2015 were included. Nasopharyngeal swab samples obtained from a total of 2,268 patients admitted to the hospital of Meram Medical School of Necmettin Erbakan University and Ministry of Health Konya Training and Research Hospital were investigated.

The nasopharyngeal swab samples obtained in the hospital of Meram Medical School were investigated via Seeplex RV12 ACE Detection multiplex PCR (Seegene, South Korea) while the samples in Konya Training and Research Hospital were assessed using the system by CLART PneumoVir (Genomica, Spain).

Of the 2,268 samples investigated in the study, 1,320 (58.2%) were detected for viruses. Positive number of viruses found in both kits were collected for use in a table, and the most common viruses rates were calculated according to these numbers. Among positive 1,221 samples, 27.9% were found to be RSV B, and this rate was, in turn, followed by HRV (18.8%) and RSV A. The most frequent concomitant of double viral agents was observed in RSV B and HRV as 14% followed by RSV A and HRV as 6.8%, and PIV 3 and HRV with 5.9%. While RSV B and RSV A were encountered most in winter and spring months, HRV was determined as an infectious agent in all seasons.

Multiplex polymerase chain reaction is beneficial for physicians to diagnose such viruses at an early stage. By the early detection of respiratory viruses leading to seasonal epidemics, physicians' approach to patients will become easier, and unnecessary use of antibiotics will be prevented. Additionally, our study findings are intriguing in shedding light on studies related to the development and application of vaccines.

Keywords

respiratory tract infections - children - viruses

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