Korean J Fam Pract.  2021 Jun;11(3):210-216. 10.21215/kjfp.2021.11.3.210.

Prevalence of Respiratory Viral Infection Using Multiplex Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction

• Kim JS
• Kim JM
• Choi SK
• Cho YJ
• Kim SJ
• Kim JA

• KMID: 2516846
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21215/kjfp.2021.11.3.210

Abstract

Background
We wanted to understand the prevalence of respiratory viral infections in children hospitalized for acute respiratory infections stratified by sex, age, season, multiple infections, and clinical symptoms.
Methods
Out of 1,331 children hospitalized for acute respiratory infections who underwent the multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction test between October 2015 and June 2017, viral infections were detected in 921, and these were included in the study.
Results
Of the 1,331 patients, 667 (50.1%) were males with a median age of 55 months. Of the 921 (69.2%) children with viral infections, 443 (48.1%) were males, and there was no statistically significant sex-related difference. Additionally, 698 (52.4%) were infected by a single virus: 194 cases of human rhinovirus (HRV) (14.6%), 181 cases of adenovirus (ADV) (13.6%), and 159 cases of respiratory syncytial virus B (RSV B) (11.9%). Infections by two or more viruses were detected in 222 cases (24.1%). The common combinations of viruses were HRV and ADV in 37 (16.7%) cases, RSV A and ADV in 17 cases (7.7%), and RSV A and RSV B in 15 cases (6.8%). Regarding the seasonal patterns, HRVs and ADVs were detected throughout the year. Metapneumoviruses were detected more often during spring, and RSVs were detected more often in November and December.
Conclusion
The prevalence of respiratory viral infections in a single center was analyzed during 21 months, and the results of this analysis may be useful for epidemiology and the treatment and prevention of acute respiratory infections.

Keyword

Respiratory Virus; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prevalence; Children