The Burden of Human Parechoviruses Among Children in Oman

Objectives: To study the burden, clinical and laboratory features, and outcome of Human Parechoviruses (HPeVs) infection among children managed at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH). Methods: This is a retrospective study of children (< 18 years of age) with molecular proven HPeVinfection managed at SQUH between January 2017 and December 2019. Data was collected from patients’ medical records and analyzed to describe the demographic, clinical and laboratory features, management and outcome. Results: HPeV was detected in 61 patients,  44 (72%) of whom were males. The median age of these patients was 9 months (IQR, 6-15 months). HPeV was detected throughout the year without any significant peaks. The majority of our patients (51; 84%) had co-infection with other viruses. Forty-eight (79%) children with HPeV infection required hospitalization and their median hospital length of stay was 5 days (IQR, 3 - 8 days).  Ex-prematurity (10; 16%) was the most common comorbidity  seen among this group. Fever (41; 67%) and cough (41; 67%) were the most common presenting symptoms among these children.Two-third of children with HPeV infection in this cohort were managed for lower respiratory tract infection and none for meningitis. Gastroenteritis was not common in our study, only 8 children had diarrhoea. All children had a full recovery. Conclusion: HPeVs does not show a clear seasonality in Oman. Most of the children were < 2 years of age and had a viral co-infection. Outcomes of HPeVs were favorable, with no mortalities, but thorough follow-up of neurological outcomes was lacking. Keywords: Children; Parechovirus; Infection; Outcome; Oman.