Differential laboratory findings of common respiratory viruses in hospitalized children: a retrospective study

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to comparatively investigate the effects of five common viral agents causing respiratory infections—influenza virus (IFV), human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV), human rhinovirus (hRV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV), and human bocavirus (hBoV)—on laboratory parameters and clinical outcomes in children without underlying chronic diseases. Material and Methods: A total of 983 children aged one month to eighteen years who presented to Ankara Bilkent City Hospital between January 2020 and December 2024 were retrospectively evaluated. Only children hospitalized with a single detected viral agent were included in the study. Clinical data and laboratory parameters were analyzed based on the identified viral pathogens. Results: Among the 983 patients included, 62% were male. The most commonly detected viral agent was IFV, followed by hBoV, hRSV, hRV, and hMPV. In IFV infections, elevated levels of AST and ALT were observed. Significant elevations in partial pressure of PCO₂ and HCO₃ were detected in hRSV infections. In hBoV infections, inflammatory markers such as CRP, WBC, and NLR reached the highest levels. Furthermore, decreases in pH and increases in PCO₂ were significantly associated with intubation and intensive care admissions. Conclusion: The distinct biomarker profiles exhibited by different viral agents may aid in guiding the clinical decision-making process. In particular, early assessment of biomarkers such as LDH, pH, PCO₂, and CRP at the time of hospital admission can be valuable for predicting disease severity and determining the need for intensive care in the clinical management of pediatric viral infections.

Keywords

• Human bocavirus
• Human metapneumovirus
• Human respiratory syncytial virus
• Human rhinovirus
• Influenza virus
• Lower respiratory tract infections

Yaygın Solunum Virüslerinin Hastaneye Yatırılan Çocuklardaki Farklı Laboratuvar Bulguları: Retrospektif Bir Çalışma

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, solunum yolu enfeksiyonlarına neden olan beş yaygın viral etkenin—influenza virüsü (IFV), insan respiratuvar sinsityal virüsü (hRSV), insan rinovirüsü (hRV), insan metapnömovirüsü (hMPV) ve insan bokavirüsü (hBoV)—altta yatan kronik hastalığı olmayan çocuklardaki laboratuvar parametreleri ve klinik sonuçlar üzerindeki etkilerini karşılaştırmalı olarak araştırmaktır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Ocak 2020 ile Aralık 2024 tarihleri arasında Ankara Bilkent Şehir Hastanesi’ne başvuran, bir ay ile on sekiz yaş arasındaki çocuk hastalar retrospektif olarak değerlendirildi. Çalışmaya yalnızca tek bir viral etken tespit edilen ve hastaneye yatırılan çocuklar dahil edildi. Tanımlanan viral patojenlere göre klinik veriler ve laboratuvar parametreleri analiz edildi. Bulgular: Çalışmaya dahil edilen 983 hastanın %62’si erkekti. En sık tespit edilen viral etken IFV olurken, bunu sırasıyla hBoV, hRSV, hRV ve hMPV izledi. IFV enfeksiyonlarında AST ve ALT düzeylerinde yükselme gözlendi. hRSV enfeksiyonlarında PCO₂ ve HCO₃ parsiyel basınçlarında anlamlı artışlar tespit edildi. hBoV enfeksiyonlarında ise CRP, lökosit (WBC) ve nötrofil/lenfosit oranı (NLR) gibi inflamatuar belirteçler en yüksek seviyelere ulaştı. Ayrıca, pH düzeyinde azalma ve PCO₂ düzeyinde artış, entübasyon ve yoğun bakım ihtiyacı ile anlamlı şekilde ilişkili bulundu. Sonuç: Farklı viral etkenlerin sergilediği özgün biyobelirteç profilleri, klinik karar sürecine rehberlik edebilir. Özellikle LDH, pH, PCO₂ ve CRP gibi belirteçlerin hastaneye yatış sırasında erken değerlendirilmesi, hastalığın şiddetini öngörmede ve yoğun bakım gereksiniminin belirlenmesinde değerli olabilir.

Keywords

• İnsan bocavirüsü
• İnsan metapnömovirüsü
• İnsan solunum sinsityal virüsü
• İnsan rinovirüsü
• İnfluenza virüsü
• Alt solunum yolu enfeksiyonları

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