Human Bocavirus Infection in Turkish Children.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Virology
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• Human bocavirus (HBoV) is increasingly recognized as a cause of acute lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) in children.
• The prevalence, clinical features, and etiological role of HBoV in LRTD remain incompletely understood.
• Distinguishing HBoV as a sole pathogen versus a coinfecting agent is crucial for understanding its clinical significance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate laboratory and clinical data of children hospitalized with HBoV infection.
• To identify clinical characteristics associated with HBoV detection.
• To compare outcomes of HBoV monoinfection versus coinfection with other respiratory pathogens.

Main Methods:

• Molecular testing was used to detect HBoV DNA and 20 other respiratory pathogens.
• Nasopharyngeal samples were analyzed from 1739 hospitalized children.
• Clinical data, including age, symptoms, chest X-ray findings, and laboratory results, were collected and analyzed.

Main Results:

• HBoV was detected in 73 (4.2%) of the 1739 children, with a median age of 15 months.
• Coinfection with other respiratory viruses occurred in 56.1% of HBoV-positive children, most commonly with rhinovirus and RSV.
• No significant differences were observed in clinical presentations, chest X-ray findings, or laboratory results between HBoV monoinfection and coinfection groups.
• The majority of HBoV-infected children were hospitalized with pneumonia or bronchopneumonia, supporting HBoV's role in LRTD.

Conclusions:

• HBoV is a significant cause of acute lower respiratory tract disease in hospitalized children, often presenting as pneumonia or bronchopneumonia.
• Coinfection with other respiratory viruses is common in HBoV-infected children but does not appear to alter clinical presentation or severity.
• HBoV primarily affects the respiratory tract but can manifest with diverse clinical symptoms.