Simultaneous infections with different enteric and respiratory tract viruses

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Virology
• Public Health

Background:

• Gastroenteritis and respiratory infections are common in infants and young children.
• Rotavirus (RV) and adenovirus are significant causes of pediatric gastroenteritis.
• Respiratory viral pathogens are frequently detected in young children, often leading to significant morbidity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of simultaneous respiratory viral infections in young children presenting with rotavirus (RV) or adenovirus gastroenteritis.
• To identify common respiratory viral pathogens co-infecting with RV or adenovirus.
• To determine the clinical significance of these dual infections in pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 484 infants and young children with confirmed rotavirus or adenovirus in stool samples.
• Respiratory samples were collected to test for the presence of common respiratory viral pathogens.
• Pathogen detection utilized methods such as PCR and antigen testing.

Main Results:

• Overall, 10.7% of study subjects exhibited dual infections (gastrointestinal and respiratory viruses).
• Among 385 RV-positive gastroenteritis patients, 8.3% had a concurrent respiratory viral infection.
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was identified in 34.1% of RV dual infections, and adenovirus was found in at least 40% of adenovirus gastroenteritis dual infections.

Conclusions:

• Dual viral infections involving gastrointestinal and respiratory pathogens are a significant concern in pediatric populations.
• The co-occurrence of rotavirus or adenovirus with respiratory viruses like RSV highlights the complex interplay of viral infections in young children.
• Further research is warranted to understand the clinical impact and management strategies for these dual infections.