Rhinovirus-C detection in children presenting with acute respiratory infection to hospital in Brazil

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Virology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Human rhinovirus (RV) is a significant cause of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in children globally.
• Understanding the clinical spectrum and demographic associations of different RV species is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the clinical and demographic characteristics of RV species in children under five with ARI in Northeast Brazil.
• To determine the prevalence of RV species and their association with specific respiratory conditions.

Main Methods:

• Nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from 630 children with ARI.
• Multiplex PCR identified pathogens, and RV-positive samples were sequenced for species and type determination.
• Clinical data, including diagnosis and disease severity, were recorded.

Main Results:

• RV was the fourth most common pathogen (18.7%), frequently detected in bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and asthma/episodic viral wheeze (EVW).
• RV-A accounted for 73% and RV-C for 27% of identified RV species; RV-B was not detected.
• No significant clinical or demographic differences were observed between RV-A and RV-C infections, except for a higher detection rate of RV-C in children with asthma/EVW (23% vs. 5%).

Conclusions:

• Human rhinovirus is an important pathogen in pediatric ARI in Northeast Brazil.
• While RV-A and RV-C infections share similar clinical features, RV-C shows a stronger association with asthma/EVW in this population.