Prevalence and clinical impact of norovirus fecal shedding in children with inherited immune deficiencies

Abstract

We report the first prospective study describing the prevalence and clinical consequences of norovirus infection in hospitalized children with primary immunodeficiencies. Fecal samples from 62 children were systematically screened for virus. Norovirus was the most frequent pathogen (11 of 24 positive samples) found in both combined and humoral immunocompromised children. Norovirus shedding was associated with gastrointestinal symptoms and concomitant viremia in 54.5% and 25% of cases, respectively. Norovirus excretion was prolonged: 57.1% of fecal samples were still positive after a median of 9.5-months follow-up. Further large longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate the clinical consequences of norovirus shedding in patients with primary immunodeficiencies.