Clinical Features of Respiratory Tract Infections Associated with Parechovirus A in Pediatric Patients
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By
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Lars Høsøien Skanke
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Inger Heimdal
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Hilde Lysvand
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Nina Moe
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Sidsel Krokstad
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Andreas Christensen
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Kari Risnes
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Svein Arne Nordbø
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Henrik Døllner
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April 20, 2026
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Clinical Scorecard: Clinical Features of Respiratory Tract Infections Associated with Parechovirus A in Pediatric Patients
At a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|
| Condition | Respiratory Tract Infections (RTI) associated with Parechovirus A (PeV-A) |
| Key Mechanisms | PeV-A detected in nasopharyngeal aspirates, often co-detected with other respiratory viruses. |
| Target Population | Children under 16 years old with RTI. |
| Care Setting | Hospital and day-care centers. |
Key Highlights
- PeV-A detected in 4.6% of hospitalized children with RTI as a single virus.
- Strong association between single PeV-A detection and upper RTI (URTI).
- Most children with PeV-A had lower RTI (LRTI) and viral co-detections.
- PeV-A likely causes pharyngitis and tonsillitis in children.
- Presence of PeV-A did not impact disease severity in co-detected cases.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
- Use nasopharyngeal aspirate for viral testing including PeV-A.
Management
- Treat based on clinical presentation and co-detected viruses.
Monitoring & Follow-up
- Monitor for disease severity using a severity score.
Risks
- Consider the presence of other respiratory viruses when assessing PeV-A.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Children with respiratory tract infections.
Management should be tailored based on clinical findings and co-infections.
Clinical Best Practices
- Evaluate clinical manifestations in children with single PeV-A detection.
- Consider viral co-detections when assessing severity and treatment.
References
