Investigation of Respiratory Tract Agents with Multiplex PCR in Children with Upper Respiratory Tract Symptoms

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Aim: The aim of this study was to detect respiratory infection pathogens in pediatric patients aged 0-18 years presenting with upper respiratory tract symptoms using the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, to analyze their seasonal distribution, and to evaluate their clinical characteristics.Materials and methods: This retrospective study was conducted through the analysis of PCR test results in 594 pediatric patients presenting to a university hospital in Kars, Türkiye, with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection.The respiratory PCR panel included seven pathogens: Influenza A/B, RSV, SARS-CoV-2, Adenovirus, Rhinovirus, and Streptococcus pyogenes.Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 20.0.Results: At least one respiratory pathogen was detected in 44.8% of patients.The most frequently identified pathogens were Influenza B (17.2%) and Rhinovirus (7.9%).Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) positivity was found in 4.4% of cases, and 42.3% of RSV-positive patients required hospitalization.Seasonally, RSV and Influenza A infections were more common in winter, while Rhinovirus and Adenovirus were more frequently observed during spring and summer.The co-infection rate was 9.4%, with the most common combination being RSV and Influenza B.Conclusion: Molecular diagnostic methods play a crucial role in the early and accurate identification of respiratory pathogens.Pathogens such as RSV may lead to more severe clinical courses, while the monitoring of widespread agents like Influenza B is critical for outbreak management.Our findings indicate that appropriate antibiotic use and seasonal surveillance are essential in managing pediatric upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs).