The burden of influenza and other respiratory viruses in hospitalized infants and children in a university hospital, Jordan

Background: Acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide in young children and is predominately caused by viral respiratory pathogens. This study aims to identify the viral etiologies of acute ALRI in hospitalized children in Jordan University Hospital and compare the clinical characteristics of influenza virus infection with other respiratory viruses. Methods: a retrospective viral surveillance study that included 152 children below 15 years of age admitted with ALRI from December 2018  through April 2019. We recorded results of real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR ) for common respiratory viruses. Clinical and demographic information of the study population was collected from patients’ electronic medical records. Results: 152 were identified with a median age of 1 year (mean was 2.1 years). Ninety-five patients (62.5%) were males. One or more viral respiratory pathogens were detected in 145 (95.3%) children. Respiratory syncytial virus was the most commonly detected virus in 68 patients (44.8%). Influenza virus was detected in 25 (16.4%). Children with influenza infection had more fever and less leukocyte count compared to children infected with other viruses. The severity of the ALRI correlated significantly with several factors, including age less than 6 months and the presence of neuromuscular disease (p<0.05). Conclusion: Viral detection was common among children admitted with viral ALRI. Viruses, including influenza, are recognized as major contributors to the morbidity associated with ALRI. More attention is needed on strategies for the prevention and detection of viral ALRI in developing countries.