title: [Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of infants admitted to hospital due to human parechovirus infections: A prospective study in Spain].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human parechovirus (HPeV) is one of the recently described picornaviridae viruses that have been associated with fever of unknown origin (FUO), clinical sepsis, gastroenteritis, meningitis, or encephalitis in very young infants. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiology and clinical features of these viruses.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective multicentre 3-year study was conducted in 12 hospitals in Spain. Out of 850 specimens examined, 47 were positive (5.52%), with HPeV-3 being the most frequent (29 cases). Infections occurred throughout the year, but mainly in May and July, and a biennial distribution was observed. More than half (57%) were neonates, and only 2 children were older than 3 months. Fever was present in all children, with irritability in 45%, rash in 18.6%, and diarrhoea in 14%. The results of biochemical tests were all in normal range. The most common final diagnosis was FUO (61%), followed by clinical sepsis (29%). Up to 29% of infants were admitted to the intensive care unit, but only one patient had sequelae.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 850 specimens examined, 47 were positive (5.52%) for HPeV, with HPeV-3 being the most frequent (29 cases). Infections occurred throughout the year, but mainly in May and July, and a biennial distribution was observed. More than half (57%) were neonates, and only 2 children were older than 3 months. Fever was present in all children, with irritability in 45%, rash in 18.6%, and diarrhoea in 14%. The results of biochemical tests were all in normal range. The most common final diagnosis was FUO (61%), followed by clinical sepsis (29%). Up to 29% of infants were admitted to the intensive care unit, but only one patient had sequelae CONCLUSIONS: HPeV circulates in our country, mainly during spring and summer, and affects young infants with a FUO and clinical sepsis. Molecular diagnostic techniques in all hospitals could help in improving the management of patients with these infections.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa, Leganés, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martín Del Valle
authors.affiliation: Servicios de Pediatría y Microbiología, Hospital La Paz, IdiPaz, Madrid, España; Red de Investigación Traslacional en Infectología Pediátrica (RITIP); TEDDY Network (European Network of Excellence for Pediatric Clinical Research). Electronic address: ccalvorey@ono.com.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital de Cruces, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España.
authors.forename: Inés
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martinez-Rienda
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital de Burgos, Burgos, España.
authors.forename: Amaia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cilla
authors.affiliation: Servicios de Pediatría y Microbiología, Hospital La Paz, IdiPaz, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: María P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: Ana Isabel
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Menasalvas
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital de Orense, Orense, España.
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reis-Iglesias
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital San Joan de Déu, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roda
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital de Gran Canarias, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España.
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pena
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Santa Creu y Sant Pau, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rabella
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Complejo Universitario Hospitalario de Vigo, Vigo, España.
authors.forename: María Del Mar
authors.initials: MDM
authors.lastname: Portugués de la Red
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital de Burgos, Burgos, España.
authors.forename: Gregoria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Megías
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moreno-Docón
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Enterovirus, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, España; Red de Investigación Traslacional en Infectología Pediátrica (RITIP).
authors.forename: Almudena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Otero
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Enterovirus, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, España; Red de Investigación Traslacional en Infectología Pediátrica (RITIP).
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cabrerizo
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D030061:Parechovirus; D010850:Picornaviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain
keywords: Clinical sepsis; Fever of unknown origin; Fiebre sin foco; Human parechovirus; Infants; Lactante; Parechovirus humano; Sepsis