Article ID: JJID.2023.062
The use of the novel inflammatory indicator—systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII)—in pediatric patients with bronchiolitis remains unreported. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between the SII and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and non-RSV bronchiolitis and clinical severity prediction. This study analyzed the data of 155 patients aged <2 years hospitalized with viral bronchiolitis due to RSV and/or other viral pathogens. The SII [platelet count×(neutrophil/lymphocyte)] value was calculated and compared among patients with RSV monoinfection, other viral monoinfections, and RSV coinfections. Severity was defined according to the number of days of supplemental oxygen treatment. The NLR and SII values were significantly higher in the non-RSV monoinfection group than in the RSV monoinfection group; the number of days of supplemental oxygen therapy was significantly increased in the RSV monoinfection group. No significant differences in the NLR, SII, and days of supplemental oxygen therapy were found between the RSV monoinfection and RSV coinfection groups. Although patients with RSV monoinfection showed more severe clinical findings than those with non-RSV monoinfection, the NLR and SII values were significantly higher in the non-RSV monoinfection group. Therefore, the NLR and SII do not appear to be very useful measurements for determining the severity of acute bronchiolitis attacks, but lower NLR and SII values in RSV group compared to non RSV group may be potential biomarker for RSV infection. Additional studies are required.
