A CROSS-SECTIONAL study conducted at the Hospital Infantil de México “Federico Gómez” has shed new light on the demographic and clinical factors driving pediatric respiratory infections in Latin America. The findings are crucial for healthcare professionals in the United States, particularly as they refine protocols for diagnosing and managing acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in children.
The research, spanning January 2021 to December 2022, analyzed 2,133 nasopharyngeal swabs from children and adolescents presenting with respiratory symptoms. Using a PCR-based multiplexed nucleic acid test, researchers identified respiratory pathogens including SARS-CoV-2. The data revealed that 71% of cases were mono-infections, while 29% involved viral co-infections. Rhinovirus/Enterovirus emerged as the most frequently detected pathogen.
Importantly, the study demonstrated that demographic variables such as age and gender, alongside clinical indicators like symptoms, immunosuppression, cardiovascular disease, and immunization history for influenza and COVID-19, were significantly associated with the type of viral infection and the clinical outcome. Notably, children with co-infections tended to exhibit a different risk profile, and the presence of one virus appeared to negatively correlate with the presence of others.
These insights underline the necessity of integrating patient demographic data and vaccination status into the risk assessment for pediatric ARIs. Such integration may improve diagnostic accuracy, inform decisions around hospitalization, and refine severity risk assessments. For clinicians in the U.S. and beyond, especially in areas with similar viral prevalence and healthcare infrastructure, the findings provide actionable data for improving pediatric respiratory care strategies.
Reference:
Flores-Alanis A et al. Demographic and clinical factors are relevant in respiratory infections among paediatric patients: a cross-sectional study in Mexico. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2025 May. doi: 10.1007/s10096-025-05168-8. [Online ahead of print].
