Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 10, 2026
An Efficient Method for Adenovirus Production
Published on: June 10, 2021
Characteristics of an Adenovirus Outbreak in Children Following the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Single-Center Experience
Sevliya Öcal Demir1, Şükrü Can Duman2, Fırat Erdoğan2
1Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
Insights
Higher procalcitonin levels and shorter fever duration before hospitalization predict severe adenoviral respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in children. Early identification aids in managing these increasingly common pediatric infections.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Adenoviral respiratory tract infections (RTIs) have increased in frequency and severity post-COVID-19.
- Accurate diagnosis and prognosis are crucial for effective management of pediatric adenoviral RTIs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify clinical factors predicting the severity of adenoviral RTIs in hospitalized children.
- To differentiate between bronchopneumonia and severe pneumonia in pediatric adenoviral RTI cases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of clinical data from 53 hospitalized children with adenoviral RTIs.
- Comparison of clinical characteristics between bronchopneumonia and severe pneumonia groups.
- Analysis of laboratory markers including leukocyte count, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin levels.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for bacterial and viral co-infections.
Main Results:
- The severe pneumonia group had a statistically shorter duration of fever before hospitalization (P = .034).
- Procalcitonin levels were significantly higher in the severe pneumonia group (P = .04).
- Leukocyte counts were normal in all patients; C-reactive protein was elevated but not related to severity.
- Co-detection of bacteria or other viruses via PCR was not associated with disease severity.
Conclusions:
- Shorter fever duration and elevated procalcitonin levels are indicators of severe adenoviral RTIs in children.
- Routine laboratory markers like leukocyte count and CRP are not reliable predictors of severity.
- Co-infections do not appear to influence the severity of adenoviral RTIs in this cohort.
Abstract:
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant increase in the frequency and severity of adenoviral respiratory tract infections (RTIs). Differential diagnosis and prediction of their course can provide appropriate management for a favorable outcome. Here, we analyzed the clinical characteristics of children hospitalized with adenoviral RTIs to determine the factors predicting their severity. Of the 53 patients, 38 were included in the bronchopneumonia, 15 in the severe pneumonia group. The duration of fever before hospitalization was statistically shorter in the severe group (P = .034). The leukocyte count was within the normal range in all patients, C-reactive protein was above the normal range in 86.8%, but this had no relation with disease severity. Procalcitonin level was statistically significantly higher in the severe pneumonia group (P = .04). The codetection of Streptococcus pneumoniae and/or Haemophilus influenzae (64.2%) or other viruses (54.7%) in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing was not associated with severity of adenovirus RTIs.
