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Respiratory infections continue to rise across Türkiye as cold weather keeps people indoors.
Health specialists now warn about a lesser known virus that can cause severe illness in very young children. The virus is called bocavirus and doctors say it can lead to heavy pneumonia in children under the age of two.
Recent reports from Turkish medical institutions confirm that bocavirus circulates alongside common winter viruses. Many families mistake it for flu because early symptoms look similar. Doctors stress that this confusion delays medical attention in serious cases.
Associate Professor Ozge Metin Akcan from Necmettin Erbakan University Faculty of Medicine described the risk in public statements.
She said bocavirus is not new but remains unfamiliar to many parents. She explained that it acts as a respiratory pathogen and can progress from mild infection to heavy pneumonia in children under two.
She explained that children may arrive at hospitals with fever, cough, runny nose and fatigue. If pneumonia develops they may show rapid breathing or difficulty breathing. She warned that severe cases in this age group can result in life threatening outcomes.
Hospitals across Türkiye continue to see higher respiratory infection loads during winter. Doctors advise families to monitor symptoms closely and seek care if breathing difficulty appears.
Medical teams cannot detect bocavirus with routine rapid tests. Dr. Akcan said diagnosis requires detailed molecular testing known as PISA. This means families often receive confirmation only after hospital evaluation.
She said there is no specific antiviral treatment for bocavirus. Care teams provide supportive treatment. Doctors admit children to hospital if their condition worsens. They provide breathing support if needed. They also assist feeding and fluid intake if children cannot eat or drink properly.
She said the approach remains similar to other severe respiratory infections. The key risk group remains children under two. In heavy cases the infection can end with fatal respiratory complications.
Doctors emphasize that early hospital admission can reduce risk. They urge families to watch for fast breathing, chest strain during breathing and refusal to eat or drink.
Bocavirus spreads in the same way as many winter viruses. Dr Akcan said transmission occurs through droplets released during coughing. The virus can also spread through hand contact with contaminated surfaces.
She said winter months bring peak circulation. Indoor crowding increases transmission risk. Doctors therefore repeat basic prevention advice.
Hospitals recommend regular hand washing. They advise covering the mouth during coughing. They also encourage indoor ventilation.
No separate vaccine or preventive medicine exists for bocavirus. Health authorities therefore rely on hygiene measures and early medical care.
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