Clinical and laboratory profiles of hospitalized children with acute respiratory virus infection

Choi, Eunjin; Ha, Kee-Soo; Song, Dae Jin; Lee, Jung Hwa; Lee, Kwang Chul

Nasopharyngeal aspirates from all patients were obtained within 48 hours of admission for multiplex RT-PCR assay to detect the following 15 common respiratory viruses: influenza virus A and B (IFA, IFB), respiratory syncytial virus A and B (RSV A, RSV B), parainfluenza virus 1-4 (PIV 1, PIV 2, PIV 3, PIV 4), human coronavirus 229E and OC43 (hCV-229E, hCV-OC43), human rhinovirus (hRV), human enterovirus (hEV), adenovirus (AdV), human bocavirus (hBV), and human metapneumovirus (hMPV). Only a single sample was taken from the patients during the admission. RT-PCR results were used to evaluate the incidence of respiratory viruses. Laboratory parameters on the first day of admission, as well as overall clinical profiles including baseline characteristics, presenting symptoms and signs, treatments and clinical outcomes, were analyzed in patients with single-virus infections. Any possible bacterial coinfections were excluded by sputum and blood culture and clinical course. Mycoplasma coinfections were excluded by sputum PCR or by a serial increase of antibody titer or a high initial IgM titer without history of recent respiratory disease.