To study the role of parechovirus A (PeV-A) in respiratory tract infections (RTI) in children using clinical and virological data from two observational studies conducted over a specified time frame.
Key Findings:
4.6% of PeV-A positive RTIs were single virus detections in hospitalized children (15/323).
95.4% of PeV-A cases had co-detections with other viruses, notably RSV (28 cases) and HRV (77 cases).
Single PeV-A detection was associated with pharyngitis and tonsillitis in 10 out of 15 cases.
PeV-A presence did not impact clinical manifestations or outcomes in children with co-detected RSV and HRV.
Interpretation:
PeV-A is commonly detected in pediatric RTIs, often alongside other viruses, but its presence does not worsen disease severity in cases with RSV or HRV.
Limitations:
The study relied on retrospective medical record evaluations, which may introduce bias.
Potential confounding factors from co-detected viruses may affect the interpretation of PeV-A's role.
Conclusion:
Single PeV-A detection is linked to pharyngitis and tonsillitis, while most hospitalized cases involve co-detections without significant impact on disease severity, emphasizing the role of co-detections.
