Respiratory viral infections and disease severity in hospitalized children: A preimmunoprophylaxis baseline…

Cohort studyInternational journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases· Sep 2026

Respiratory viral infections and disease severity in hospitalized children: A preimmunoprophylaxis baseline study highlighting the role of human metapneumovirus.

Kubra Aykac, Osman Oguz Demir, Aylin Irmak Kuruc … Yasemin Ozsurekci

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Pediatric RespiratoryCohort studyQ1IF 4.0

Respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus carry similarly high odds of needing respiratory support

Respiratory viral infections and disease severity in hospitalized children: A preimmunoprophylaxis baseline study highlighting the role of human metapneumovirus.

Kubra Aykac … Yasemin Ozsurekci

International journal of infectious diseases · Sep 2026 · Q1 in General Medicine

Background

With the introduction of respiratory syncytial virus (respiratory syncytial virus) immunoprophylaxis, the contribution and severity of other respiratory viruses require a more comprehensive investigation in different patient cohorts.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study of hospitalized children with laboratory-confirmed respiratory viral infections at a tertiary pediatric center between the years 2018 and 2024.

Results

hMPV carries nearly as high odds of needing respiratory support as respiratory syncytial virus

OR by subgroup · 95% CI

More results

Of 35,943 respiratory specimens, 16,866 (46.9%) tested positive for at least one virus.

Respiratory syncytial virus primarily affected infants (median age 5 months, IQR 2-29), whereas human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and influenza virus (influenza virus) affected older children (median 26 months, IQR 8-54, and 57 months, IQR 23-108; P < 0.001).

More results

Respiratory support was required in 71% of respiratory syncytial virus and hMPV cases vs 46% of influenza virus (P < 0.001).

Pediatric intensive care unit admission occurred in 33/352 (9%) of respiratory syncytial virus cases, 9/66 (14%) of hMPV cases, and 33/301 (11%) of influenza cases (P > 0.05).

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Conclusion

Respiratory syncytial virus remains the leading cause of severe respiratory disease in early childhood, but hMPV is a substantial contributor in older children with comparable severity and should be considered in future prevention strategies.

Respiratory viral infections and disease severity in hospitalized children: A preimmunoprophylaxis baseline study highlighting the role of human metapneumovirus.

Respiratory viral infections and disease severity in hospitalized children: A preimmunoprophylaxis baseline study highlighting the role of human metapneumovirus.

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