Clinical significance of human rhino-/enterovirus co-detection in pediatric Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To determine whether upper respiratory tract co-detection of human rhino-/enterovirus is associated with a distinct clinical phenotype in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. Methods We analyzed 236 children with M. pneumoniae infection detected by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from 2022 to 2025 at the University Children’s Hospital Zurich, comparing those without and with human rhino-/enterovirus co-detection, and performing a secondary analysis after excluding other co-detections. Results No statistically significant differences were observed in demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, or inflammatory markers between groups. Conclusion Human rhino-/enterovirus co-detection may represent incidental viral detection rather than clinically relevant co-infection in children with M. pneumoniae infection, supporting cautious interpretation of multiplex PCR results.