Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 28, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancements in Multiplex Detection of Respiratory Viruses
03:53

Author Spotlight: Advancements in Multiplex Detection of Respiratory Viruses

Published on: November 10, 2023

1.3K

Respiratory Coinfections in Children With SARS-CoV-2

Adrianna Westbrook1, Tingyu Wang1, Kushmita Bhakta2,3

  • 1From the Pediatric Biostatistics Core, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|May 31, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Respiratory coinfections are common in children with SARS-CoV-2, especially in those under two years old. The likelihood of coinfection decreases with age in pediatric patients with COVID-19.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology of Respiratory Illnesses
  • Viral Coinfections in Children

Background:

  • Resurgence of endemic respiratory pathogens necessitates understanding coinfections in pediatric SARS-CoV-2 cases.
  • Epidemiological data on coinfections in children with COVID-19 is crucial as respiratory pathogen transmission returns to pre-pandemic levels.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the proportion of pediatric patients with SARS-CoV-2 who experienced respiratory coinfections.
  • To identify common coinfecting pathogens and analyze the association between coinfection and patient age.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of pediatric patients (0-21 years) tested for respiratory pathogens using BioFire Respiratory Panel 2.1.
  • Poisson regression analysis to assess the likelihood of coinfection and its correlation with age.

Main Results:

  • Over 7.6% of respiratory panel tests were positive for SARS-CoV-2, with 23.7% of these cases having coinfections.
  • Rhino/enterovirus was the most frequent coinfection (15.7%), followed by adenovirus (4.2%) and RSV (3.5%).
  • Children under 2 years old exhibited the highest coinfection rates; coinfection risk decreased by 8% for each year increase in age.

Conclusions:

  • Respiratory coinfections are prevalent in pediatric SARS-CoV-2 patients.
  • Coinfection likelihood is influenced by pathogen type, host factors, and the time period, including viral variant predominance and transmission seasons.
Abstract

More Related Videos

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

Generation, Amplification, and Titration of Recombinant Respiratory Syncytial Viruses

Published on: April 4, 2019

15.9K
Infection of Primary Nasal Epithelial Cells Grown at an Air-Liquid Interface to Characterize Human Coronavirus-Host Interactions09:02

Infection of Primary Nasal Epithelial Cells Grown at an Air-Liquid Interface to Characterize Human Coronavirus-Host Interactions

Published on: September 22, 2023

1.5K

Related Concept Videos

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,...
724
Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation01:17

Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation

In terms of human respiration, the act of expelling air, known as exhalation (or expiration), operates on the principle of pressure gradients. During expiration, the pressure within the lungs exceeds that of the surrounding atmosphere. Under normal conditions, quiet breathing involves passive exhalation and is free of muscular contractions. This is because the exhalation process is driven by the natural elastic recoil of the lungs and chest wall, both of which have an inherent tendency to...
1.7K
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:
291
Acute Respiratory Failure-I01:21

Acute Respiratory Failure-I

Acute respiratory failure is a condition characterized by the inability of the lungs to perform their primary function: gas exchange. This failure leads to insufficient oxygen levels (hypoxemia) in the blood, elevated carbon dioxide levels (hypercapnia), or both, causing critical impairment in organ function.
Definition: It is defined by specific criteria based on blood gas measurements. Hypoxemia happens when the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) falls below 60 mmHg. At the same time,...
256
Acute Respiratory Failure-V01:29

Acute Respiratory Failure-V

The treatment for acute respiratory failure varies based on factors like the underlying cause, overall health, and severity. A collaborative healthcare team is essential for early detection, often through arterial blood gas analysis. Identifying the cause is the primary goal, with treatment strategies adjusted for ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) mismatch, shunting, or diffusion impairment.
Ensure that patients are monitored continuously for their response to therapy, including changes in...
171
Acute Respiratory Failure-III01:30

Acute Respiratory Failure-III

Hypercapnic respiratory failure, also known as Type 2 or ventilatory respiratory failure, is a severe condition characterized by the body's inability to effectively remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the bloodstream. It leads to an arterial CO2 pressure (PaCO2) exceeding 45 mmHg and a blood pH above 7.35. This situation indicates that the body's ventilatory demand, or the ventilation needed to maintain normal PaCO2 levels, surpasses its supply or the maximum gas flow achievable without...
237