Adenovirus Infection in Hospitalized Children with Acute Respiratory Infection in Jordan.

BACKGROUND

The most common clinical manifestation of adenovirus (AdV) infection is acute respiratory illness (ARI). Specific AdV species associated with ARI hospitalizations are not well defined in the Middle East.

METHODS

A viral surveillance study was conducted among children <2 years hospitalized in Amman, Jordan, from March 2010 to March 2013. Nasal and throat respiratory specimens were obtained from enrolled children and tested for viruses using a real-time reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. AdV-positive specimens were typed by partial hexon gene sequencing. Demographic and clinical features were compared between AdV detected as single pathogen versus co-detected with other respiratory viruses, and between AdV-B and AdV-C species.

RESULTS

AdV was detected in 475/3168 (15%) children hospitalized with ARI; of these, 216 (45%) specimens were successfully typed with AdV-C as the most common species detected (140/216; 65%). Children with AdV-single detection (88/475; 19%) had a higher frequency of fever (71% vs. 56%; P=0.015), diarrhea (18% vs. 11%; p=0.048), and/or seizures/abnormal movements (14% vs. 5%; p=0.003). Children with AdV co-detected with other viruses more likely required oxygen support [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.91 (95% CI: 1.08, 3.39), P = 0.027] than those with AdV-single detection. Children with AdV-C had higher odds of co-detections with other viruses compared with those with AdV-B [aOR 4.00 (95% CI: 1.91, 8.44), P < 0.001].

CONCLUSION

Clinical differences were identified between AdV-single and AdV co-detected with other viruses, and between AdV-B and AdV-C. Larger studies with AdV typing are needed to determine additional epidemiological and clinical differences between specific AdV species and types.