Studyon The Status Of Human Rhinovirus Infectionsin Children With Respiratory Tract Infections And Asthma In Suzhou

Objective To investigate the frequency and clinical characteristics of humanrhinovirus (HRV) in hospitalized children with respiratory tract infections (RTIs) inSuzhou and the association between HRV infection and asthma.MMeetthhoodds From Dec2012to Nov2013,1933nasal aspirate specimens from childrenwith RTIs and153throat swabs from asthmatic children between Sep2013and Mar2014were obtained, RNA was extracted from the specimens and reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed for HRV RNA. Medical records ofpatients with a positive test for HRV in RTIs and all asthmatic patients were analyzed.Direct immuno-fluorescence assay was done directly on the respiratory specimens fromchildren with RTIs and tested for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus types A,B (InfA, B), parainfluenza virus types1-3(Pinf1-3), and adenovirus (ADV). Usingreal-time PCR method for human bocavirus (HBoV), RT-PCR for humanmetapneumovirus (hMPV).RReessuulltts1. From the1933RTIs specimens,728viruses were detected (37.7%),including214HRV (11.1%),210RSV (10.9%),146HBoV (7.6%),96Pinf-3(5.0%), and24Pinf-1(3.3%), etc. Coinfections with HRV were detected in35patients (35/214,16.4%),with HBoV as the most frequent coinfections (15/35,42.9%).2. HRV distributedsporadically throughout the year, with a peak in September. The detection rate was higherin summer and autumn seasons than winter and spring. Males were more susceptible toHRV infection than females (χ2=7.452，P=0.006), majority of the infected children wasunder2years old (70.6%), and the positive number decreased gradually with age.3. Theclinical manifestations of HRV were similar to other viruses, presented with fever, coughand wheezing. Coinfections were more common in males less than1year, and thecoinfections did not cause more severe diseases. In patients diagnosed with lobarpneumonia or asthma, HRV was detected more frequently than other common viruses, and was second to RSV infection in bronchiolitis.4. HRV was closely related with asthmaexacerbation with a detection rate of28.6%, and HRV infection was more frequent inasthmatic patients with a positive skin prick test. Conclusion HRV was a major viralpathogen of RTIs in Suzhou, sporadically distributed throughout the year with a peak inSeptember, mainly infected children less than2years and HRV was one of the viralpathogen that can trigger asthma exacerbation and was closely related with allergicsensitization.