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Multicenter Study
. 2018 Feb;88(2):82-88.
doi: 10.1016/j.anpedi.2017.02.009. Epub 2017 Mar 30.

[Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of infants admitted to hospital due to human parechovirus infections: A prospective study in Spain]

[Article in Spanish]
Fernando Martín Del Valle  1 , Cristina Calvo  2 , Inés Martinez-Rienda  3 , Amaia Cilla  4 , María P Romero  5 , Ana Isabel Menasalvas  6 , Leticia Reis-Iglesias  7 , Diana Roda  8 , María J Pena  9 , Nuria Rabella  10 , María Del Mar Portugués de la Red  11 , Gregoria Megías  4 , Antonio Moreno-Docón  6 , Almudena Otero  12 , María Cabrerizo  12 ; Grupo de Estudio de las infecciones por enterovirus y parechovirus en niños
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Free article
Multicenter Study

[Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of infants admitted to hospital due to human parechovirus infections: A prospective study in Spain]

[Article in Spanish]
Fernando Martín Del Valle et al. An Pediatr (Engl Ed). 2018 Feb.
Free article

Abstract

Introduction: Human parechovirus (HPeV) is one of the recently described picornaviridae viruses that have been associated with fever of unknown origin (FUO), clinical sepsis, gastroenteritis, meningitis, or encephalitis in very young infants. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiology and clinical features of these viruses.

Patients and methods: A prospective multicentre 3-year study was conducted in 12 hospitals in Spain. Out of 850 specimens examined, 47 were positive (5.52%), with HPeV-3 being the most frequent (29 cases). Infections occurred throughout the year, but mainly in May and July, and a biennial distribution was observed. More than half (57%) were neonates, and only 2 children were older than 3 months. Fever was present in all children, with irritability in 45%, rash in 18.6%, and diarrhoea in 14%. The results of biochemical tests were all in normal range. The most common final diagnosis was FUO (61%), followed by clinical sepsis (29%). Up to 29% of infants were admitted to the intensive care unit, but only one patient had sequelae.

Results: Out of 850 specimens examined, 47 were positive (5.52%) for HPeV, with HPeV-3 being the most frequent (29 cases). Infections occurred throughout the year, but mainly in May and July, and a biennial distribution was observed. More than half (57%) were neonates, and only 2 children were older than 3 months. Fever was present in all children, with irritability in 45%, rash in 18.6%, and diarrhoea in 14%. The results of biochemical tests were all in normal range. The most common final diagnosis was FUO (61%), followed by clinical sepsis (29%). Up to 29% of infants were admitted to the intensive care unit, but only one patient had sequelae CONCLUSIONS: HPeV circulates in our country, mainly during spring and summer, and affects young infants with a FUO and clinical sepsis. Molecular diagnostic techniques in all hospitals could help in improving the management of patients with these infections.

Keywords: Clinical sepsis; Fever of unknown origin; Fiebre sin foco; Human parechovirus; Infants; Lactante; Parechovirus humano; Sepsis.

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