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. 2007 Feb;119(2):314-21.
doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2006.08.041. Epub 2006 Nov 30.

Prevalence of viral respiratory tract infections in children with asthma

Nino Khetsuriani  1 , N Neely Kazerouni, Dean D Erdman, Xiaoyan Lu, Stephen C Redd, Larry J Anderson, W Gerald Teague
Affiliations

Prevalence of viral respiratory tract infections in children with asthma

Nino Khetsuriani et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007 Feb.

Abstract

Background: Previous studies support a strong association between viral respiratory tract infections and asthma exacerbations. The effect of newly discovered viruses on asthma control is less well defined.

Objective: We sought to determine the contribution of respiratory viruses to asthma exacerbations in children with a panel of PCR assays for common and newly discovered respiratory viruses.

Methods: Respiratory specimens from children aged 2 to 17 years with asthma exacerbations (case patients, n = 65) and with well-controlled asthma (control subjects, n = 77), frequency matched by age and season of enrollment, were tested for rhinoviruses, enteroviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus, coronaviruses 229E and OC43, parainfluenza viruses 1 to 3, influenza viruses, adenoviruses, and human bocavirus.

Results: Infection with respiratory viruses was associated with asthma exacerbations (63.1% in case patients vs 23.4% in control subjects; odds ratio, 5.6; 95% CI, 2.7- 11.6). Rhinovirus was by far the most prevalent virus (60% among case patients vs 18.2% among control subjects) and the only virus significantly associated with exacerbations (odds ratio, 6.8; 95% CI, 3.2-14.5). However, in children without clinically manifested viral respiratory tract illness, the prevalence of rhinovirus infection was similar in case patients (29.2%) versus control subjects (23.4%, P > .05). Other viruses detected included human metapneumovirus (4.6% in patients with acute asthma vs 2.6% in control subjects), enteroviruses (4.6% vs 0%), coronavirus 229E (0% vs 1.3%), and respiratory syncytial virus (1.5% vs 0%).

Conclusion: Symptomatic rhinovirus infections are an important contributor to asthma exacerbations in children.

Clinical implications: These results support the need for therapies effective against rhinovirus as a means to decrease asthma exacerbations.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Number and percentage of rhinovirus (RV) detections by season among children with acute exacerbations (case patients) and children with well-controlled asthma (control subjects).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Respiratory viruses and acute asthma in children.
    Jartti T, Waris M, Niesters HG, Allander T, Ruuskanen O. Jartti T, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007 Jul;120(1):216; author reply 217. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2007.02.025. Epub 2007 Apr 2. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007. PMID: 17399782 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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