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Detection and Genogrouping of Noroviruses from Children's Stools By Taqman One-step RT-PCR
Published on: July 22, 2012
Influenza virus detection in the stool of children with acute gastroenteritis
Jianling Xie1, Xiao-Li Pang2, Gillian A M Tarr3
1Section of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatric, Alberta Children Hospital, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Insights
Influenza in children with gastroenteritis is linked to older age, fever, respiratory symptoms, and more severe illness. These clinical features distinguish influenza-positive cases from those who are influenza-negative.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Virology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Gastroenteritis is a common childhood illness.
- Influenza virus can cause respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Distinguishing influenza in children with gastroenteritis is important for diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the clinical characteristics of children with gastroenteritis and influenza detected in stool versus those without influenza.
- To identify specific clinical indicators associated with influenza in pediatric gastroenteritis cases.
Main Methods:
- Children under 18 with gastroenteritis and negative enteropathogen stool tests were analyzed.
- Stool samples were tested for influenza.
- Clinical features of influenza-positive and influenza-negative gastroenteritis cases were compared.
- Control group stools were also tested for influenza.
Main Results:
- Influenza-positive gastroenteritis cases were older, more likely to present in fall/winter, and had higher rates of fever and respiratory symptoms.
- Dehydration and more severe illness (higher Modified Vesikari Scale scores) were more common in influenza-positive cases.
- Influenza was detected in stool in 3.0% of gastroenteritis cases and 0.4% of controls.
Conclusions:
- Fever, respiratory symptoms, older age, and more severe illness are more prevalent in children with gastroenteritis and influenza in stool.
- These findings help differentiate influenza-associated gastroenteritis in children.
Objectives:
To determine if the clinical characteristics of children with gastroenteritis and influenza identified in their stool differ from those whose stool was influenza-negative.
Methods:
Children <18-years with gastroenteritis whose stool tested negative for enteropathogen were tested for influenza in stool. The clinical features between influenza-positive and influenza-negative gastroenteritis cases were compared. Stools from controls without infection were also tested for influenza.
Results:
Among the 440 gastroenteritis cases, those who were influenza test-positive were older [median age 4.0 (IQR: 2.3, 5.5) vs. 1.5 (IQR: 0.5, 4.0) years; P = 0.008], more likely to present in fall or winter (92.3 % vs. 48.0 %; P = 0.001), be febrile (84.6 % vs. 30.6 %; P < 0.001), have respiratory symptoms (91.7 % vs. 44.8 %; P = 0.002), have dehydration [median Clinical Dehydration Scale score: 4 (IQR: 1.5, 4.5) vs. 2 (IQR: 0, 3); P = 0.034], and have higher Modified Vesikari Scale scores [median: 13 (IQR: 10.5, 14.0) vs. 10 (IQR: 9.0, 13.0); P = 0.044], than those who tested negative. Thirteen gastroenteritis cases (13/440; 3.0 %) including one child without respiratory symptoms vs. one control (1/250; 0.4 %) were influenza stool positive.
Conclusions:
Fever, respiratory symptoms, more severe illness, and older age were more common in children with gastroenteritis with influenza detected in stool, compared to those tested negative.
