epidemiologic survey of coronavirus (strain OC 43) related infections in a children's population. Amer J Epid 94: 43-49, 1971.-Acute and convalescent serum pairs and control sera collected from subjects living in a children's home over a 7-year period (1960-1967) were examined by hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test witl coronavirus strain OC 43. Ninety-three serologic conversions were observed; 44 were associated with reported illnesses and 49 with no reported illnesses. In three distinct outbreaks during the winter and spring quarter of 1960-1961, 1964-1965, and 1966-1967, 67 conversions occurred. Seroconversions to strain OC 43 were associated with as much as 19% of the respiratory diseases in a single season. Over the 7-year period coronavirus strain OC 43 accounted for 3% of the total 1328 respiratory illnesses. Evidence of preexisting antibody was apparent in one-third of the children showing seroconversions. The j^ (HI test was more sensitive for serodiagnosis than the complement-fixaticn test. The major presenting complaints of the children with respiratory disease associated with coronavirus strain OC 43 were sore throat, cough and coryza; the predominating symptoms were pharyngitis, coryza, fever and cervical adenitis.

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SummaryThe data from our 1968-69

The indirect hemagglutination (IHA) test for coronavirus 229E antibodies was used for serodiagnostic and seroepidemiologic studies in a population of children. Subjects ranged in age from 5 to 19 years and lived in a home which participated in a longitudinal surveilance of respiratory illness (1960-1968). During this period 1477 respiratory illnesses were observed; 63 (4%) were associated with sero-response (fourfold or greater antibody rises) to 229E. An additional 105 sero-responses were associated with unreported or subclinical illness. The frequency of these infections was cyclical, and 229E and coronavirus OC 43 infections peaked in different years among the same population. Sero-responses occurred mainly in the fall, winter and spring quarters. Preexisting antibody was demonstrated in one-third of the children with 229E sero-responses. Clinical studies indicated that the most frequent complaints with 229E infections were sore throat, coryza and cough, and the most frequent findings were pharyngeal injection, coryza and fever.