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Published on: January 30, 2017
Medically Attended Outpatient Parainfluenza Virus Infections in Young Children from a Single Site in Machala, Ecuador
Manika Suryadevara1, Dongliang Wang2, Freddy Pizarro Fajardo3
1Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13066, USA.
Insights
Parainfluenza virus (PIV) infections are common in Ecuadorian children with respiratory illness. PIV seasonality in Ecuador occurs from March to July, unaffected by the pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Respiratory Virology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Parainfluenza virus (PIV) infections are a significant cause of childhood acute respiratory illness globally.
- Limited region-specific epidemiological data exist for PIV, particularly in Ecuador.
- Understanding PIV's clinical impact and seasonality is crucial for public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical manifestations, seasonality, and meteorological associations of PIV infections in young children in Ecuador.
- To provide updated epidemiological insights into PIV in a previously understudied region.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 1251 children under 5 years with acute respiratory infection symptoms from July 2018 to July 2023.
- Nasopharyngeal swabs analyzed using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (Biofire FilmArray).
- Correlation with regional meteorological data from Ecuador's National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology.
Main Results:
- PIV was detected in 9% of enrolled children.
- PIV infections peaked between March and July, showing consistent seasonality post-pandemic onset.
- Common clinical presentations included upper respiratory illness (82%), laryngotracheitis (3%), and bronchiolitis (11%).
- PIV detection showed negative associations with ambient temperature and rainfall.
Conclusions:
- PIV significantly contributes to pediatric respiratory tract infections requiring medical attention in coastal Ecuador.
- The study establishes key seasonal patterns for PIV in this region.
- Findings underscore the need for PIV surveillance and inform public health interventions.
Abstract:
Parainfluenza virus (PIV) infections contribute to the overall childhood morbidity from acute respiratory illness, yet virus-specific epidemiologic data are lacking across many regions globally. Here, we describe the clinical manifestations, seasonality, and meteorologic associations with PIV infections in Ecuadorian children. Between July 2018 and July 2023, we documented demographic and clinical information from children younger than 5 years seen in a single public health clinic with signs and symptoms consistent with an acute respiratory infection. Nasopharyngeal swabs collected at study enrollment underwent multiplex polymerase chain reaction-based diagnostic testing (Biofire FilmArray v. 1.7™). Regional meteorological data from the same period were provided by Ecuador's Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia e Hidrologia. Parainfluenza viruses were detected in 9% of the 1251 enrolled subjects. PIVs were most frequently detected between March and July, with no change in seasonality following SARS-CoV-2 pandemic onset. Clinical manifestations of PIV infections included non-specific upper respiratory illness (82%), laryngotracheitis (3%), and bronchiolitis (11%). Events of PIV detection were negatively associated with ambient temperature and rainfall. Our findings highlight the contribution that PIVs play in the morbidity associated with pediatric medically attended outpatient respiratory tract infection and provide new insights into the seasonal epidemiology of PIV infections in coastal Ecuador.
