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Human Coronavirus in Hospitalized Children With Respiratory Tract Infections: A 9-Year Population-Based Study From

Inger Heimdal1, Nina Moe1,2, Sidsel Krokstad3

  • 1Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim.

The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|November 13, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Human coronaviruses (HCoVs) were found in 1 in 10 hospitalized children with respiratory tract infections (RTIs). High viral load indicated a significant association with RTIs, highlighting HCoV

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Virology
  • Public health epidemiology

Background:

  • Human coronavirus (HCoV) burden in pediatric respiratory tract infections (RTIs) is not well-defined.
  • This study investigated HCoV occurrence and hospitalization rates over nine years.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence and impact of HCoVs in hospitalized children with RTIs.
  • To assess the association between HCoV genomic load and RTI severity.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective enrollment of hospitalized children with RTIs and asymptomatic controls (2006-2015).
  • Nasopharyngeal aspirates analyzed via semiquantitative PCR for HCoV subtypes and other respiratory pathogens.
  • Logistic regression used to analyze HCoV genomic load and RTI association.

Main Results:

  • HCoV detected in 9.1% of RTI episodes; OC43, NL63, HKU1, and 229E were identified.
  • Hospitalization rates for HCoV-positive lower RTIs were 1.5 and 2.8 per 1000 children under 5 and 1 year, respectively.
  • High HCoV genomic load (cycle threshold <28) significantly associated with RTIs (OR=3.12, P=.016).

Conclusions:

  • HCoVs are present in approximately 1 in 10 hospitalized children with RTIs.
  • A high HCoV genomic load is a strong indicator of respiratory tract infections.
  • HCoVs contribute significantly to the burden of pediatric RTIs requiring hospitalization.
Abstract

Keywords:
asymptomatic controlschildrenhospitalization rateshuman coronavirusesrespiratory tract infections

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