INTRODUCTION: Although acute respiratory illnesses (ARI) are major causes of morbidity and mortality in early childhood worldwide, little progress has been made in their control and prophylaxis. Most studies have focused on hospitalized children or children from closed populations. It is essential that the viral etiology of these clinical diseases be accurately defined in the development of antiviral drugs. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of all common respiratory viruses as upper and lower respiratory tract pathogens in the first year of life. STUDY DESIGN: This community-based birth cohort study prospectively collected detailed information on all ARI contracted by 263 infants from birth until 1 year of age. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected for each ARI episode, and all common respiratory viruses were detected by polymerase chain reaction. Episodes were classified as upper respiratory illnesses or lower respiratory illnesses (LRI), with or without wheeze. RESULTS: The majority reported 2-5 episodes of ARI in the first year (range, 0-11 episodes; mean, 4.1). One-third were LRI, and 29% of these were associated with wheeze. Viruses were detected in 69% of ARI; most common were rhinoviruses (48.5%) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (10.9%). Compared with RSV, >10 times the number of upper respiratory illnesses and >3 times the number of both LRI and wheezing LRI were attributed to rhinoviruses. CONCLUSION: Rhinoviruses are the major upper and lower respiratory pathogens in the first year of life. Although RSV is strongly associated with severe LRI requiring hospitalization, the role of rhinoviruses as the major lower respiratory pathogens in infants has not previously been recognized.
INTRODUCTION: Although acute respiratory illnesses (ARI) are major causes of morbidity and mortality in early childhood worldwide, little progress has been made in their control and prophylaxis. Most studies have focused on hospitalized children or children from closed populations. It is essential that the viral etiology of these clinical diseases be accurately defined in the development of antiviral drugs. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of all common respiratory viruses as upper and lower respiratory tract pathogens in the first year of life. STUDY DESIGN: This community-based birth cohort study prospectively collected detailed information on all ARI contracted by 263 infants from birth until 1 year of age. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected for each ARI episode, and all common respiratory viruses were detected by polymerase chain reaction. Episodes were classified as upper respiratory illnesses or lower respiratory illnesses (LRI), with or without wheeze. RESULTS: The majority reported 2-5 episodes of ARI in the first year (range, 0-11 episodes; mean, 4.1). One-third were LRI, and 29% of these were associated with wheeze. Viruses were detected in 69% of ARI; most common were rhinoviruses (48.5%) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (10.9%). Compared with RSV, >10 times the number of upper respiratory illnesses and >3 times the number of both LRI and wheezing LRI were attributed to rhinoviruses. CONCLUSION: Rhinoviruses are the major upper and lower respiratory pathogens in the first year of life. Although RSV is strongly associated with severe LRI requiring hospitalization, the role of rhinoviruses as the major lower respiratory pathogens in infants has not previously been recognized.
Authors: Marisa M Mussi-Pinhata; Fabrizio Motta; Laura Freimanis-Hance; Ricardo de Souza; Edgardo Szyld; Regina C M Succi; Celia D C Christie; Maria J Rolon; Mariana Ceriotto; Jennifer S Read Journal: Int J Infect Dis Date: 2010-05-08 Impact factor: 3.623
Authors: Linda C Ede; Michael J Loeffelholz; Pedro Alvarez-Fernandez; Dan L Pong; Janak A Patel; David P McCormick; Tasnee Chonmaitree Journal: Pediatr Infect Dis J Date: 2012-11 Impact factor: 2.129
Authors: Anne Wisdom; Aldona E Kutkowska; E Carol McWilliam Leitch; Eleanor Gaunt; Kate Templeton; Heli Harvala; Peter Simmonds Journal: PLoS One Date: 2009-12-30 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Ben D Spycher; Michael Silverman; Juerg Barben; Ernst Eber; Stéphane Guinand; Mark L Levy; Caroline Pao; Willem M van Aalderen; Onno C P van Schayck; Claudia E Kuehni Journal: PLoS One Date: 2009-12-31 Impact factor: 3.240