Viral etiology and the impact of co-detection in young children presenting with influenza-like illness

Faye J. Lim (Lead / Corresponding author), Zoe V. Wake (Lead / Corresponding author), Avram Levy, Simone Tempone, Hannah C. Moore, Peter C. Richmond, Nicholas de Klerk, Nicholas Conway, Anthony D. Keil, Paul V. Effler, David W. Smith, Christopher C. Blyth

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    Abstract

    Background: Children with acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) frequently exhibit viral-viral codetection, yet its clinical significance remains contentious. Using data from a prospective cohort of children with influenza-like illness, we described the virology of ARTI and determined the clinical impact of viral-viral co-detection.
    Methods: Children aged 6-59 months presenting to a tertiary paediatric hospital with fever and acute respiratory symptoms were enrolled and nasal samples collected during influenza seasons in 2008-2012. Respiratory viruses were identified by culture and PCR. We compared demographics, presenting symptoms and clinical outcomes of children with single viral infection and viral-viral co-detection. We used logistic regression models and estimated marginal means to calculate the adjusted odds ratio and probabilities of symptom presentation, antibiotic prescription or hospitalisation.
    Results: 1630 of 2356 children (69.2%) had a virus detected, among whom rhinovirus (40.8%), influenza (29.5%) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV; 26.4%) were most commonly detected. 24% of these had two or more viruses detected. After adjusting for demographic factors, children with co-detection had greater odds of presenting with cough (aOR=1.9, 95% CI:1.2-3.1), rhinorrhoea (aOR=1.8, 95% CI:1.1-2.9) than those with single infection, although both symptoms were common. Children with influenza and RSV combined had the highest probability of hospitalisation (probability=55%, 95%CI:35-73%), significantly greater than those with influenza infection alone (probability=22%, 95%CI:16-29%).
    Conclusions: Overall, co-detection has limited impact on clinical severity among children with influenza-like illness. However, specific pathogen pairs may be associated with more severe outcomes. Routine diagnostics to identify viral co-detection should be
    Original languageEnglish
    Article numberpiw042
    Pages (from-to)260-266
    Number of pages7
    JournalJournal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
    Volume6
    Issue number3
    Early online date20 Jul 2016
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2016

    Keywords

    • Respiratory infection
    • Viral infection
    • Child
    • Co-detection

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