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Respiratory Pathogens and Clinical Characteristics of Asthma Exacerbations in Hospitalized Children at a Tertiary

Enes Çelik1, Hande Yüksel Bulut1

  • 1Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Ankara Atatürk Sanatorium Training and Research Hospital, Ankara 06290, Türkiye.

Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 28, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Rhinovirus (RV) was the most common pathogen in children hospitalized for asthma exacerbations, followed by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Younger age and moderate-to-severe asthma independently predicted severe exacerbations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Allergy and Immunology

Background:

  • Respiratory pathogens are frequently identified during childhood asthma exacerbations.
  • Understanding pathogen distribution and associated factors is crucial for managing severe cases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the distribution of respiratory pathogens in hospitalized children with asthma exacerbations.
  • To identify clinical features and factors associated with severe exacerbations.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective observational study of 312 children (aged 1-18 years) hospitalized for asthma exacerbation.
  • Analysis of demographic, clinical, laboratory, and pathogen data from medical records over two years.

Main Results:

  • Respiratory pathogens were detected in 75.3% of patients.
  • Rhinovirus (RV) was the predominant pathogen (130/203 single infections), followed by RSV (18/203).
  • RV infection correlated with allergic rhinitis, aeroallergen sensitization, and elevated IgE levels. Younger age and moderate-to-severe asthma were independently associated with severe exacerbations.

Conclusions:

  • Rhinovirus is the most common pathogen in pediatric asthma exacerbations requiring hospitalization.
  • Younger age and moderate-to-severe asthma are key independent predictors of severe exacerbations in this population.

Keywords:
aeroallergen sensitizationasthma exacerbationchildrenhospitalizationrespiratory pathogensrespiratory syncytial virusrhinovirus

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