Sorubarajan, Tharmarajan, and Sorubarajan, Sivapriyan (2024) Clinical presentation and management of enterovirus and parechovirus infection in children: A single‐centre study in regional Australia. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 32 (5). pp. 983-943.

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Abstract

Objective This study aims to analyse the clinical presentation caused by enterovirus (EV) and/or human parechovirus (HPeV) infection in children, as well as the management of such cases admitted to a regional hospital in Australia.

Methods Retrospective study reviewing medical records.

Setting Single hospital in regional Australia.

Participants All children under 18 years admitted over the 5-year period beginning from 1 January 2017 with confirmed EV and/or HPeV infection. Cases with clinically insignificant EV/HPeV isolation were excluded.

Main Outcome Measures Data collected included demographic data, signs and symptoms present, specimens of EV/HPeV isolation, co-occurring pathogens, peak C-reactive protein (CRP), antibiotic therapy, discharge diagnosis and follow-up after discharge.

Results Overall, 27 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria; 81.5% of the patients were ≤3 months of age with a median of 2 months (interquartile range 1–3); 74.1% were males. The most common clinical features were a fever ≥38°C and irritability/lethargy/high-pitched cry. 29.6% of the patients had co-occurring pathogens detected, and a CRP ≤10 mg/L was observed in 77.8% of cases. All but two children were treated with antibiotics while awaiting polymerase chain reaction results. The most common discharge diagnosis was meningitis. In all, 74.1% of the children attended follow-up appointments.

Conclusions EV and HPeV should be considered as a possible aetiology of fever and irritability/lethargy/high-pitched cry in children under 3 months.

Item ID:	85440
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1440-1584
Copyright Information:	© 2024 National Rural Health Alliance Ltd.
Date Deposited:	13 May 2025 02:50
FoR Codes:	32 BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCES > 3202 Clinical sciences > 320211 Infectious diseases @ 100%
SEO Codes:	28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280103 Expanding knowledge in the biomedical and clinical sciences @ 100%
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