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Abstract

Objective: Respiratory viral infections are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children. Acute respiratory infections account for approximately 20% of childhood fatalities. This study aimed to retrospectively investigate the respiratory viral agents and epidemiological characteristics, in pediatric patients. Methods: The study included pediatric patients, aged 0-18 years. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 5,253 samples sent to the microbiology laboratory with suspected respiratory tract infection between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2023. Sixteen different viral agents were investigated in samples using multiplex PCR. The enrolled patients were divided into three groups. Positive results were examined in terms of age group, annual distribution and seasonal distribution (statistical). Results: At least one virus was detected in 55.4% of all cases, with 39.2% having mono-infection and 16.2% having coinfection where two or more viral agents. The highest positivity rate was seen in the 1-6 age group. The three most frequently detected viral agents in all age groups were rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and bocavirus. Both the number of samples examined and the positivity rate were significantly higher in 2023 were than other years. The highest number of positive cases was observed in the winter season and its adjacent months. Conclusion: Viral pathogens remain significant contributors to respiratory tract infections in pediatric populations. The swift and precise identification of pathogens, along with the evaluation of epidemiological data, is crucial for the treatment and tracking of these infections.

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