title: Children with multiple viral respiratory infections are older than those with single viruses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the clinical impact of multiple viral respiratory infections compared to single infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic data from 37 multiple infection periods in children <5 years of age were compared to data from 193 episodes with single infections. Clinical data derived from patient records of the multiple infection episodes were further compared to data from 93 matched control episodes with single infections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of patients with multiple viral findings was 12.7 months, compared to 5.7 months for those with single findings (p < 0.01). Wheezing was the most common diagnosis in both groups, except among children who were only infected with the coronavirus. No differences were found regarding duration of hospitalisation, oxygen treatment or admittance to the intensive care unit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with multiple viral findings in their respiratory secretions were older than those with a single detected virus. Otherwise, no major differences in comorbidity, presentation or clinical outcome were observed between the two groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rotzén-Östlund
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tiveljung Lindell
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Allander
authors.forename: Benita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zweygberg Wirgart
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grillner
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D060085:Coinfection / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Coronavirus; Multiple viral findings; Picornavirus; Respiratory syncytial virus