RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Association between rhinovirus C infection and respiratory symptom severity in an unselected pediatric population, the EUROPA-study
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP P4114
VO 40
IS Suppl 56
A1 M.P. van der Schee
A1 J.G. Wildenbeest
A1 S. Hashimoto
A1 K.S.M. Benschop
A1 A.C. Schuurman
A1 N. Adriaens
A1 K.C. Wolthers
A1 A.B. Sprikkelman
A1 E.G. Haarman
A1 W.M.C. van Aalderen
A1 Peter J. Sterk
YR 2012
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P4114.abstract
AB Rationale-In a paediatric population hospitalized for bronchiolitis rhinovirus (RV) type C is associated with more severe respiratory symptoms as compared to other RV genotypes (Bizzintino,ERJ,'11). RV infections in infants are linked to the development of asthma but specific clinical features of RV-C infection in the general population are unknown. We therefore aim to study the occurrence and respiratory symptom severity associated with RV-C in an unselected paediatric population.Methods-This is a cross-sectional study from the prospective EUROPA birth cohort, aimed at early prediction of asthma (N=1207;0-3 years). Nose and throat swabs were collected in both asymptomatic infants and infants whose parents consulted the GP for wheeze or dyspnea. RV presence was tested using a 5'UTR rtPCR with genotyping based on the VP4/VP2 region. Symptom severity was assessed by parents scoring the presence and severity of 10 symptoms (range 0-50) and by clinicians using the validated PRAM-score (range 0-12).Results-102 infants (13.3±5.5 months) presented with an infection of whom 53% had a positive RV PCR. RV-A, B & C were found in 35%, 4% and 24% of cases, respectively. 2/17 asymptomatic infants tested positive for RV-A. RV genotypes did not differ significantly regarding symptom severity as scored by parents (μ±SD=14±6.4; p=0.75) and clinicians (1.5±1.9; 0.33).Conclusion-Rhinovirus-C infection occurred in 24% of the infants and is associated with similar symptom severity as other RV-genotypes. Since RV-C appears to be commonly involved in wheezy episodes not requiring hospitalization, it's association with future development of asthma needs to be examined.