Demographic and clinical factors are relevant in respiratory infections among paediatric patients: a cross-sectional study in Mexico.

PURPOSE: The role of factors that could be associated with the diagnosis, hospitalisation, and severity risk of virus-caused acute respiratory infections (ARIs) is limited in Mexican children and adolescents.

METHODS

To determine whether demographic and clinical factors may be associated with viral infections, a cross-sectional study was conducted at the Hospital Infantil de México "Federico Gómez" from January 2021 to December 2022. Nasopharyngeal swabs from patients with respiratory symptoms were tested for a PCR-based multiplexed nucleic acid test to identify respiratory pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2.

RESULTS

Among the 2,133 positive viral tests, 71% were mono-infections, and 29% were co-infections, with Rhinovirus/Enterovirus being the most frequent virus in this population. Besides, a negative association was identified in co-infecting viruses. Several demographics (age and gender) and clinical factors (signs/symptoms, comorbidities [immunosuppression and cardiovascular disease], and immunisation status [Flu and COVID-19 vaccination]) were associated with virus aetiology, the nature of the infection and patient status.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data highlights the relevance of the factors related to virus-caused ARIs in paediatric patients. These factors could help clinicians manage medical cases regarding diagnosis, hospitalisation, and severity risk.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.