WHAT'S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT: Human rhinovirus has been known as the common cold agent. Recently, studies have reported that this virus is responsible for severe infections of the lower respiratory tract in children. Reports of factors that increase disease severity have been contradictory.
WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS:This study identifies some of the factors involved in disease severity in HRV infections in children. We expect that children at risk for developing severe disease could be identified sooner and appropriate measures could be taken. abstract OBJECTIVE: To evaluate retrospectively human rhinovirus (HRV) infections in children up to 5 years old and factors involved in disease severity.METHODS: Nasopharyngeal aspirates from 434 children presenting a broad range of respiratory infection symptoms and severity degrees were tested for presence of HRV and 8 other respiratory viruses. Presence of host risk factors was also assessed.RESULTS: HRV was detected in 181 (41.7%) samples, in 107 of them as the only agent and in 74 as coinfections, mostly with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV; 43.2%). Moderate to severe symptoms were observed in 28.9% (31/107) single infections and in 51.3% (38/74) coinfections (P = .004). Multivariate analyses showed association of coinfections with lower respiratory tract symptoms and some parameters of disease severity, such as hospitalization. In coinfections, RSV was the most important virus associated with severe disease. Prematurity, cardiomyopathies, and noninfectious respiratory diseases were comorbidities that also were associated with disease severity (P = .007).CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that HRV was a common pathogen of respiratory disease in children and was also involved in severe cases, causing symptoms of the lower respiratory tract. Severe disease in HRV infections were caused mainly by presence of RSV in coinfections, prematurity, congenital heart disease, and noninfectious respiratory disease. Pediatrics 2014;133:e312-e321 AUTHORS: