National Cross-Sectional Study Assessing the Positivity Rate and Clinical Manifestations of Human Bocavirus Respiratory Infections Among Hospitalized Children Under 5 Years of Age in Jordan

Human bocavirus (HBoV) is an important respiratory pathogen in young children, but recent data from Jordan are limited. This study assessed the positivity rate, epidemiological profile, clinical manifestations, and predictors of HBoV infection among hospitalized children aged <5 years in Jordan. In this national multicenter cross-sectional study, 1000 children aged <5 years admitted with acute respiratory infection to four hospitals in Jordan between November 2022 and March 2023 were included. Nasopharyngeal specimens were tested for HBoV, and demographic, clinical, and hospitalization data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. HBoV was detected in 48/1000 children (4.8%), with the highest positivity in January 2023 (15.5%). Fever (100%), cough (100%), rhinorrhea (56.3%), respiratory crackles (58.3%), and breathlessness (47.9%) were the most frequent manifestations. Pneumothorax/atelectasis was more frequent in HBoV-positive than HBoV-negative children (2.1% vs. 0.2%; p = 0.021). Household smoking, residence outside Amman, and longer hospital stay were independent predictors of HBoV positivity. HBoV infection was not independently associated with complications. HBoV accounted for a measurable proportion of pediatric respiratory hospitalizations in Jordan and remains a relevant contributor to respiratory morbidity in children under 5 years.