Immunological Characteristics of Acute Respiratory Viral Infections in Infants and Young Children

  • Madina Mambetova Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, I K Akhunbaev Kyrgyz State Medical Academy, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
  • Zuura Dzholbunova Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, I K Akhunbaev Kyrgyz State Medical Academy, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
  • Elmira Mainazarova Department of General and Clinical Epidemiology, I K Akhunbaev Kyrgyz State Medical Academy, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
  • Svetlana Chechetova Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, I K Akhunbaev Kyrgyz State Medical Academy, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
  • Damira Chyinyeva Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, I K Akhunbaev Kyrgyz State Medical Academy, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
  • Elena Khalupko Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, I K Akhunbaev Kyrgyz State Medical Academy, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
  • Banur Uzakbaeva Department of Radiology and Radiotherapy, I K Akhunbaev Kyrgyz State Medical Academy, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
  • Gulmira Suranbaeva Department of Infectious Diseases, I K Akhunbaev Kyrgyz State Medical Academy, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

Abstract

Introduction: Acute respiratory viral infections (ARVIs) are a leading global cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality; however, data for Kyrgyzstan remain scarce due to limited diagnostics. This study characterized the clinical features and immunological changes in hospitalized children with ARVI according to disease severity.

Methods: In this observational study conducted between 2020 and 2023, 97 children were enrolled based on a clinical ARVI diagnosis; those with immunodeficiency, chronic disease, immunosuppressive therapy, or incomplete data were excluded.

Results: Severe ARVI predominated (64%), with pneumonia (51.5%) and respiratory failure (42.2%) as the most common complications. Severity correlated with C-reactive protein (r=0.79) and was associated with electrolyte changes and lower protein levels. Leukocytosis was correlated with the length of hospitalization (r=0.3). Severe cases (n=52) versus moderate cases (n=30) showed higher leukocytes (11.66±0.92 vs 8.50±0.38), increased CD3+, CD4+ (1025 vs 607 cells/µL) and CD8+ (656 vs 415 cells/µL), CD4/CD8 index (1.53 vs 1.40), heightened IgG (20.8 vs 17.8 mg/mL), IgA (20.1 vs 1.5 mg/mL), IgM (4.9 vs 1.5 mg/mL) and circulating immune complexes (153.34±7.77 vs 137.9±5.14).

Conclusion: Severe pediatric ARVI showed inflammation and immune activation with dysregulated balance, supporting CRP and immunophenotyping as prognostic tools in cases where virological confirmation is limited.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202630

How to cite this article:
Mambetova M, Dzholbunova Z, Mainazarova E, Chechetova S, Chyinyeva D, Khalupko E, Uzakbaeva B, Suranbaeva G. Immunological Characteristics of Acute Respiratory Viral Infections in Infants and Young Children. JCommun Dis. 2026;58(2):64-71.

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Published
2026-06-30
Issue
Vol. 58 No. 2 (2026): Journal of Communicable Diseases
Section
Research Article

Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Communicable Diseases (E-ISSN: 2581-351X & P-ISSN: 0019-5138)

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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