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Distinctive clinical features of human bocavirus in children younger than 2 years

Yoko Moriyama1, Hiromichi Hamada, Mineyuki Okada

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Tokyo Women's Medical University Yachiyo Medical Center, 477-96 Owada-shinden, Yachiyo, Chiba 276-8524, Japan.

European Journal of Pediatrics
|April 13, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Human bocavirus (HBoV) infection in children with lower respiratory tract infection presents distinct clinical features, including specific seasonality and higher rates of hypoxia and neutrophilia compared to RSV. These HBoV cases generally have good prognoses and shorter hospital stays.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Human bocavirus (HBoV) is a known pathogen, but its specific clinical impact on lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in children requires further elucidation.
  • Understanding distinct clinical features of HBoV infection is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and define the unique clinical characteristics of HBoV-positive children diagnosed with LRTI.
  • To compare these features with those of children infected with other common respiratory viruses, specifically Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

Main Methods:

  • Prospective examination of virus genomes (HBoV, RSV, etc.) in nasopharyngeal swabs of 402 hospitalized children (<2 years) with LRTI.
  • Comparative analysis of clinical and laboratory data between HBoV-positive, RSV-single positive, and virus/bacteria-negative patient groups.

Main Results:

  • HBoV was identified in 8.5% of cases, with a seasonal peak from March to September, contrasting with winter RSV seasonality.
  • HBoV patients showed significantly lower oxygen saturation (hypoxia) and higher neutrophil percentages (neutrophilia) compared to RSV patients.
  • The minimum age for HBoV was 5 months, with generally good prognoses and an average hospital stay of 6.6 days.

Conclusions:

  • HBoV single infections in children with LRTI exhibit distinct clinical profiles regarding seasonality, age distribution, hypoxia, and neutrophilia.
  • These findings differentiate HBoV from RSV infections, aiding in clinical recognition and management strategies.
Abstract

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