Background: Human enteroviruses (HEVs) have been
recognized to cause a significant number of respiratory tract
infections in many regions. Previous studies conducted to
analyse enteroviral respiratory tract infections focused on
outbreaks. Data in the Southeast Asian region is still rather
limited to date.
Objectives: We conducted a prospective analysis to
understand the epidemiological characteristics of
enteroviral lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) among
paediatric patients admitted to Hospital Ampang, a tertiary
hospital in Malaysia.
Methodology: Nasopharyngeal aspirates for common
respiratory viruses and throat swabs for enteroviruses were
obtained for rtPCR analyses. All positive enteroviral results
were then cultured for species identification.
Results and conclusion: Of the total 211 recruited patients,
enteroviral LRTIs made up 8%. The clinical features of
enteroviral infections are mostly clinically indistinguishable
from that of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections.
However, RSV appears to be more lymphocytosis causing
than enteroviruses (EV). We found a higher asthma
incidence within the enteroviral group compared to RSV
group. Enteroviral infections continue to play an important
role in LRTIs in children beyond infancy and up to school
age. Among the enteroviral strains, EV71 contributes a
major role in enteroviral LRTIs in our center. Routine testing
for enterovirus would certainly help identify a significant
proportion of unexplained viral LRTIs among paediatric
patients. However, further cost analyses studies would be
helpful to determine if incorporating testing for
enteroviruses into routine respiratory viruses panel tests is
economically feasible.