Impact and seasonality of human rhinovirus infection in hospitalized patients for two consecutive years

• Main Authors: Jaqueline Leotte, Hygor Trombetta, Heloisa Z. Faggion, Bernardo M. Almeida, Meri B. Nogueira, Luine R. Vidal, Sonia M. Raboni
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier
• Series: Jornal de Pediatria
• Subjects: Rinovírus humano; Infecções respiratórias agudas; Vírus respiratório
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0021-75572017000300294&lng=en&tlng=en

Abstract Objectives: To report epidemiological features, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of human rhinovirus (HRV) infections in comparison with other community acquired respiratory virus (CRV) infections in patients hospitalized for two consecutive years. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory data of patients hospitalized with acute respiratory syndrome in a tertiary care hospital from 2012 to 2013 were reviewed. Results: HRV was the most common CRV observed (36%, 162/444) and was present in the majority of viral co-detections (69%, 88/128), mainly in association with human enterovirus (45%). Most HRV-infected patients were younger than 2 years (57%). Overall, patients infected with HRV had a lower frequency of severe acute respiratory infection than those infected with other CRVs (60% and 84%, respectively, p = 0.006), but had more comorbidities (40% and 27%, respectively; p = 0.043). However, in the adjusted analysis this association was not significant. The mortality rate within the HRV group was 3%. Detection of HRV was more prevalent during autumn and winter, with a moderately negative correlation between viral infection frequency and temperature (r = −0.636, p < 0.001) but no correlation with rainfall (r = −0.036, p = 0.866). Conclusion: HRV is usually detected in hospitalized children with respiratory infections and is often present in viral co-detections. Comorbidities are closely associated with HRV infections. These infections show seasonal variation, with predominance during colder seasons.