Comparison of Clinical, Demographic Features and Costs in Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Rhinovirus and Viral Co-infections in Hospitalized Children with Lower Respiratory Tract Infections.

Viruses are the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in children. Our study aims to shed light on co-infections by comparing with the most common single agents, Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Rhinovirus (RV), in terms of epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and cost. This retrospective study included infants under the age of five, hospitalized with a diagnosis of LRTI with RSV, RV or co-infection were analyzed. The study group consisted of 199 children, RSV was detected in 116 patients (58,3%), RV in 46 (23,1%) and co-infections in 37 (18,6%). The average age of RV was higher (P = 0.006) and the lenght of hospital stay of RSV-infected patients was longer (P = 0.03) than other agents. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of oxygen need, intensive care unit admission, intubation, and development of complications. The cost was found to be significantly higher in the RSV group (P=0.02). Viral co-infections, RSV and RV constitute an important part of the etiology in patients under five years of age and co-infections do not cause more severe clinical findings compared to single viral agents. Moreover cost was found to be significantly higher in patients with RSV.