Juvenile-Onset Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis in the United States, Epidemiology and HPV Types-2015-2020

Juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JORRP) is a rare disease characterized by the growth of papillomas in the respiratory tract. In the United States, JORRP is not a nationally notifiable condition and current data are limited.

Children with JORRP aged <18 years were enrolled from 26 pediatric otolaryngology centers in 23 US states from January 2015 through August 2020. Demographic, birth information, and maternal vaccination history were collected from a parent/guardian. Clinical history was abstracted from medical records. Papilloma biopsies were tested for 28 human papillomavirus (HPV) types. Mothers who delivered in 2006 or later were considered age-eligible for HPV vaccination if aged ≤26 years in 2006. We described characteristics of enrolled children and their birth mothers and analyzed disease severity by diagnosis age and HPV type using multiple logistic regression.

Among 215 children with JORRP, 88.8% were delivered vaginally; 64.2% were firstborn. Among 190 mothers, the median delivery age was 22 years. Among 114 (60.0%) age-eligible for HPV vaccination, 16 (14.0%) were vaccinated, 1 (0.9%) before delivery. Among 162 specimens tested, 157 (96.9%) had detectable HPV; all 157 had a vaccine-preventable type. Disease severity was associated with younger diagnosis age and HPV 11; adjusted analyses found only younger diagnosis age significant (adjusted odds ratio: 6.1; 95% confidence interval: 2.9, 12.8).

Children with JORRP were commonly firstborn and delivered vaginally to young mothers; most of the mothers reported no HPV vaccination before delivery. Vaccine-preventable HPV was identified in all specimens with detectable HPV. Increasing preexposure HPV vaccination could substantially reduce or eliminate JORRP in the United States.