Equal Virulence of Rhinovirus and Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Infants Hospitalized for Lower Respiratory Tract Infection

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and rhinovirus (RV) are predominant viruses associated with lower respiratory tract infection in infants. We compared the symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection caused by RSV and RV in hospitalized infants. RV showed the same symptoms as RSV, so on clinical grounds, no difference can be made between these pathogens. No relation between polymerase chain reaction cycle threshold value and length of hospital stay was found.

Pitfalls in interpretation of CT-values of RT-PCR in children with acute respiratory tract infections

“…The literature on the relation between disease severity and viral load is conflicting. Some investigators suggest a positive relationship [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15], although others cannot confirm these results [16][17][18][19][20]. Multiple viruses are detected rather frequently in children with respiratory infections and in these cases it is almost impossible to determine the causative pathogen and the relation between viral load and disease severity [21][22][23].…”

Effect of the 2009 Influenza A/H1N1 Pandemic on Viral Respiratory Infections in the First Year of Life

“…While RSV has long been accepted as a major cause of severe respiratory disease and hospitalization in the first year of life, recent data have shown similar rate of hospitalization 13 and severity of illness 14 caused by rhinovirus. We only had 2 cases of rhinovirus LRI in this cohort and both were co-infected with parainfluenza virus.…”

“…Further studies on pathogenicity of rhinovirus, in relation to other respiratory viruses are needed. To date, a few studies have already begun to use quantitative viral diagnostics (viral load) to help indicate the cause-and-effect relationship in rhinovirus infection 14, 18 .…”

Evaluation of Viral Diagnostics on rEspiratory iNfections in ChildrEn

“…Sommige onderzoekers suggereren een positieve relatie hiertussen [63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72] , terwijl anderen die relatie niet zien [73][74][75][76][77][78] In de kindergeneeskunde praktijk is virale diagnostiek vaak gebruikt als een enkelvoudige meting bij eerste presentatie van een kind op de spoedeisende hulpafdeling of polikliniek. Deze omstandigheden zijn echter niet optimaal om de relatie tussen viral load en ziekte-ernst te bestuderen, omdat viral load een dynamisch proces is.…”

“…Recently, also vaccine-component escaping variants have been discovered, but the impact on vaccine effectiveness is unknown 77 . It is known that vaccine effectiveness of the whole cell vaccine has a longer duration than that of the acellular vaccine, but duration of protection against disease after natural infection is better than the duration of protection by both vaccines.…”