Age-Specific Characteristics of Adult and Pediatric Respiratory Viral Infections: A Retrospective Single-Center Study

Abstract

This study aimed to identify age-specific characteristics of respiratory viral infections. Hospitalized patients with confirmed viral respiratory infections were included in the sample. The patients were divided into the pediatric group (<19 years old) and the adult group (≥ 19 years old). The groups were then subdivided based on age: 0–6, 7–12, 13–18, 19–49, 50–64, and ≥ 65 years old. These groups were compared to evaluate the differences in the pattern of respiratory viral infections. Among a total of 4058 pediatric patients (mean age 3.0 ± 2.9 years, n = 1793 females), 2829 (48.9%) had mono-infections, while 1229 (51.1%) had co-infections. Co-infections were the most common in the 0–6-year-old group (31.6%). Among 1550 adult patients (mean age 70.2 ± 15.3 years, n = 710 females), 1307 (85.6%) had mono-infections and 243 (14.4%) had co-infections. Co-infections were most common in the ≥ 65-year-old group (16.8%). Viral infection and co-infection rates decreased with age in pediatric patients but increased with increasing age in adults. In pediatric patients, the rates of viral infections and co-infections were high; the rate of co-infections was higher in younger patients. In adult patients, the rates of viral infections and co-infections were lower than those in pediatric patients; the rate of co-infections was higher in older patients.

Precision Vaccinology Approaches for the Development of Adjuvanted Vaccines Targeted to Distinct Vulnerable Populations

“…As the immune system undergoes dramatic changes in the early years of life, significant phenotypic differences emerge between pediatric and adult immune responses [ 19 , 20 , 21 ]. These differences manifest in a higher pediatric susceptibility and vulnerability to certain infectious diseases [ 22 , 23 , 24 ]. In fact, infectious diseases are amongst the leading global causes of pediatric mortality [ 25 ], which is at least partially due to their distinct immune responses.…”

Is Computed-Tomography-Based Body Composition a Reliable Predictor of Chemotherapy-Related Toxicity in Pancreatic Cancer Patients?

“…In these patients, alterations in nutritional status have a multifactorial etiology that includes a paraneoplastic syndrome that affects up to 80% of them, and a malabsorption due to pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI), observed in 44.5-68.0% of cases (whether primary or secondary to previous surgical resection) [12,13]. Indeed, fecal elastase deficiency, as an indicator of PEI, has been identified as an independent predictor of survival [3,14,15].…”