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Published on: February 23, 2014
[Viral etiology and risk factors for severe community-acquired pneumonia in children]
Xiao-Fang Ding1, Bing Zhang, Li-Li Zhong
1Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, Changsha 410005, China.
Insights
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the leading viral cause of severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children. Underlying conditions and RSV infection increase severity, while younger age offers protection.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Respiratory virology
- Epidemiology of childhood pneumonia
Context:
- Severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) poses a significant health burden in children.
- Identifying viral etiologies and risk factors is crucial for effective management and prevention.
- Previous studies have varied in their focus on specific viral pathogens and risk stratification.
Purpose:
- To determine the spectrum of viral pathogens responsible for severe CAP in hospitalized children.
- To identify clinical risk factors associated with the development of severe CAP in pediatric patients.
- To analyze the role of specific viruses, such as RSV, in disease severity.
Summary:
- Viral pathogens were identified in 82% of severe CAP cases, with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) being the most prevalent (37%).
- Human Bocavirus (HBoV) and Human Rhinovirus (HRV) were also common, with 32% of cases exhibiting mixed infections.
- Underlying diseases (OR=6.623) and RSV infection (OR=1.672) were significant risk factors for severe CAP, whereas younger age (OR=0.475) acted as a protective factor.
Impact:
- This study highlights RSV as a primary viral driver of severe pediatric CAP, informing targeted prevention and treatment strategies.
- Understanding risk factors like underlying conditions and specific viral infections can aid in early identification and intervention for high-risk children.
- The findings contribute to a better understanding of the complex interplay between viral agents, host factors, and disease severity in pediatric pneumonia.
Objective:
To study the virus spectrum of severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and risk factors for the disease in children.
Methods:
Respiratory secretion specimens were collected from 1096 children hospitalized with CAP from June 2007 to November 2008, including 100 cases of severe CAP. Respiratory viruses were detected by PCR, nest-PCR or RT-PCR. Clinical data on the children were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis for examining risk factors for severe CAP.
Results:
Viral pathogens were isolated from 82 (82%) of the 100 cases with severe CAP. RSV was the most common (37%), followed by HBoV (25%) and HRV (18%). Mixed infection was noted in 32 cases (32%). The presence of underlying diseases (OR=6.623, P<0.01) and RSV infection (OR=1.672, P<0.05) were risk factors for severe CAP in children, while age was a protective factor (OR=0.475, P<0.01).
Conclusions:
RSV is the most frequent viral pathogen in children with severe CAP. The presence of underlying diseases and RSV infection may be risk factors for severe CAP, while age is a protective factor.
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