A Decade of Parainfluenza Virus Infections: Retrospective Analysis of Respiratory Infections at Ramathibodi Hospital (2012−2022)
Keywords:
Retrospective study, Parainfluenza virus, Respiratory virus, Ramathibodi HospitalAbstract
The parainfluenza virus (PIV) is a leading cause of respiratory tract infections worldwide. There are four serotypes: PIV-1, PIV-2, PIV-3, and PIV-4. This study analyzed retrospective data from the Virology Laboratory at the Faculty of Medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital from 2012 to 2022, totaling 43,329 cases. The overall PIV infection rate was 9.10%, peaking in 2014 at 12.74%. Infections exhibited clear seasonal variation, with the highest number of cases occurring from January to June, with February recording the highest monthly infection rate (13.76%). PIV-3 was the most common serotype (46.16%), followed by PIV-1 (27.61%), PIV-4 (13.40%), and PIV-2 (12.38%) among infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. There was a statistically significant association with PIV infection (p = 0.021, OR = 3.90, 95% CI = 1.23–12.43; p = 0.012, OR = 4.44, 95% CI = 1.40–14.11; and p = 0.033, OR = 3.52, 95% CI = 1.10–11.24), and the highest incidence of PIV infection was found in toddlers. Gender and the timing of the pandemic were not associated with infection rates. Nasal swabs had a significantly lower chance of detecting PIV than nasopharyngeal swabs. This data can be used to prepare for potential future PIV outbreaks.
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