Respiratory Viral Infectious Aetiologies of Transient Cytopenia in Previously Healthy Children

Background and Aims: Transient cytopenia due to infectious agents is frequent in childhood. Clinical picture changes between mild to life-threatening conditions. In this study, viral aetiology of previously healthy children admitted with viral symptoms and cytopenia were evaluated. Methods: Children admitted from January to April 2015 were included. Children with chronic diseases and previous neutropenia were excluded. Their demographic features and aetiological viral pathogens were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Twenty-nine patients (17 male [58.6%], 12 female [41.4%]), whose mean age was 63.3±38.9 months, were included. Symptoms started median 5 (2-10) days before the admission. Admission symptoms were as follows; nasal symptom (n=27, 93%), cough (n=27, 93%), fever (n=25, 86.2%), GIS symptoms (vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain) (n=20, 69%), arthralgia (n=12, 41%), myalgia (n=11, 37.9%), skin eruption (n=7, 24.1%), and respiratory distress (n=4, 13.8%). Twenty-two patients (75,8%) had leukopenia, 19 (61.3%) children had neutropenia, 3 (9.6%) had thrombocytopenia, and 9 (29%) had leukopenia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. Respiratory viral Polymerase Chain Reaction was positive in 21 (67.7%) children. The distribution of viruses was as follows; influenza A, 11 (H1N1, 8; H3N2, 3); influenza B, 5; rhinovirus, 3; respiratory syncytial virus, 2. None of the children had more than one virus. Cytopenia was shown to resolve median 12 days (7-28) after the onset of symptoms. Conclusion: Viral pathogens accompanying cytopenia are various. The recovery from cytopenia is rapid.