Severidad y días de estancia intrahospitalaria en pacientes pediátricos con infecciones de vías respiratorias inferiores por metapneumovirus en comparación con virus sincitial respiratorio.

Abstract

Introduction: Lower respiratory tract infections are one of the leading causes of hospitalization in children under two years of age, especially those infected by viral agents such as respiratory syncytial virus and
metapneumovirus. These infections are associated with variations in clinical
severity, hospital length of stay, and the need for respiratory support.
Objective: To determine the differences in severity and hospital stay duration among patients under 2 years of age with lower respiratory tract infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus compared to
metapneumovirus.
Methods: This was an observational, retrospective, comparative, and
analytical study. Medical records of patients under 2 years of age hospitalized at Christus Muguerza Conchita Hospital with lower respiratory tract infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus or metapneumovirus, detected through PCR, were included. Patients with both viruses identified in the same test were excluded. Vital signs at admission were collected, as
well as the need for oxygen devices (high or low flow), admission to the intensive care unit, and the length of stay in intensive care. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to determine the normality of variables.
Results: A total of 54 patients were included, with a mean age of 15.5 ± 6.2 months; 63% were male. Comorbidities were present in 18.5% of patients, and the mean gestational age was 37.5 ± 2.4 weeks. The mean hospital stay was 6.2 ± 2.2 days. Respiratory difficulty assessed by the Silverman-Anderson score indicated mild respiratory distress in 47.5% and moderate in 25.9% of patients, with no cases of severe distress. Respiratory syncytial virus was identified in 57.4% of cases, while metapneumovirus was present in 42.6%. A total of 83.3% of patients required oxygen support, predominantly using low-flow devices (83.3%), and 20.4% were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit, with a mean stay of 6 ± 1.7 days. When comparing groups with respiratory syncytial
virus and metapneumovirus, no significant differences were found in hospital stay duration, respiratory distress severity, oxygen requirements, or intensive care admission. Similarly, no significant differences were observed when comparing patients with and without additional
comorbidities.
Conclusion: This study found no significant differences in disease severity or hospital stay duration between children under two years of age with lower respiratory tract infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus or metapneumovirus.

Date of Award	28 Feb 2025
Original language	Spanish
Awarding Institution	Universidad de Monterrey