Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 15, 2025

An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
09:01

An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

Published on: December 10, 2013

8.1K

Differences in clinical severity of respiratory viral infections in hospitalized children

Benjamin M Althouse1,2,3, Stefan Flasche4, Michiko Toizumi5

  • 1Institute for Disease Modeling, 3150 139th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA, 98005, USA. balthouse@idmod.org.

Scientific Reports
|March 5, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Clinical severity in children with respiratory viruses is not significantly different between single and multiple infections. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections increase severity risk, while Adenovirus (ADV) decreases it.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Virology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Clinical severity of pediatric respiratory infections can be influenced by the specific pathogen or the presence of multiple infections.
  • Understanding these variations is crucial for effective patient management and prognosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the clinical severity of infections caused by common respiratory viruses in children in Nha Trang, Vietnam.
  • To determine if severity differs between single, multiple, and no viral infections.

Main Methods:

  • Hospital-based surveillance was conducted on pediatric patients.
  • Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect 13 respiratory viruses in nasopharyngeal samples.
  • A novel clinical severity score was applied to assess infection severity and its association with viral load.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in clinical severity was observed between children with zero, one, or two concurrent viral infections.
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections were associated with a 2-fold and 1.5-fold increased odds of severe disease, respectively.
  • Adenovirus (ADV) infection was consistently linked to a lower risk of severe disease.

Conclusions:

  • Clinical severity in children with respiratory viral infections is not strongly associated with the number of concurrent viruses.
  • Specific viruses like RSV and HMPV indicate a higher risk of severe disease, warranting targeted diagnostic and clinical attention.
  • PCR testing for suspected RSV or HMPV, along with detection of co-infecting viruses, is recommended for assessing potential disease severity.

More Related Videos

A Mouse Model for the Transition of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Colonizer to Pathogen upon Viral Co-Infection Recapitulates Age-Exacerbated Illness12:21

A Mouse Model for the Transition of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Colonizer to Pathogen upon Viral Co-Infection Recapitulates Age-Exacerbated Illness

Published on: September 28, 2022

2.8K
Generation, Amplification, and Titration of Recombinant Respiratory Syncytial Viruses11:48

Generation, Amplification, and Titration of Recombinant Respiratory Syncytial Viruses

Published on: April 4, 2019

16.6K

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
101
Common Respiratory Disorders01:31

Common Respiratory Disorders

Respiratory disorders, a prevalent health concern globally, are generally divided into two primary categories: upper and lower respiratory tract disorders. The categorization is based on the area of the respiratory system they affect.
Upper respiratory disorders impact the airways above the vocal cords, encompassing areas like the nose, sinuses, and throat. Various conditions fall under this category, including the common cold and allergic rhinitis. These disorders can stem from several causes,...
1.1K
Pneumonia IV: Management01:28

Pneumonia IV: Management

The treatment of pneumonia varies based on its severity and the causative pathogen. Here is a structured approach to managing pneumonia, integrating pharmaceutical and supportive care strategies.
Bacterial Pneumonia Treatment
For bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics serve as the cornerstone of therapy. Initial treatment often begins with empirical antibiotics, tailored to the anticipated causative organism and adjusted based on culture results. Key antibiotic choices include:
571
Acute Respiratory Failure-II01:21

Acute Respiratory Failure-II

Type I Respiratory Failure, or hypoxemic respiratory failure, occurs when the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) in arterial blood falls below 60 mmHg while breathing room air without a corresponding increase in arterial carbon dioxide levels (PaCO2). This condition highlights a significant impairment in the lungs' capacity to oxygenate the blood.
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
717
Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology01:29

Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology

The pathophysiology of pneumonia involves the following steps:
1.7K
Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment01:30

Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment

Pneumonia poses the potential for numerous complications that warrant consideration. These complications include the following:
577