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. 2017 Jan;74(1):29-41.
doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2016.09.003. Epub 2016 Sep 22.

Respiratory viruses and influenza-like illness: Epidemiology and outcomes in children aged 6 months to 10 years in a multi-country population sample

Sylvia Taylor  1 , Pio Lopez  2 , Lily Weckx  3 , Charissa Borja-Tabora  4 , Rolando Ulloa-Gutierrez  5 , Eduardo Lazcano-Ponce  6 , Angkool Kerdpanich  7 , Miguel Angel Rodriguez Weber  8 , Abiel Mascareñas de Los Santos  9 , Juan-Carlos Tinoco  10 , Marco Aurelio P Safadi  11 , Fong Seng Lim  12 , Marcela Hernandez-de Mezerville  5 , Idis Faingezicht  5 , Aurelio Cruz-Valdez  6 , Yang Feng  13 , Ping Li  14 , Serge Durviaux  13 , Gerco Haars  13 , Sumita Roy-Ghanta  14 , David W Vaughn  14 , Terry Nolan  15
Affiliations

Respiratory viruses and influenza-like illness: Epidemiology and outcomes in children aged 6 months to 10 years in a multi-country population sample

Sylvia Taylor et al. J Infect. 2017 Jan.

Abstract

Background: Better population data on respiratory viruses in children in tropical and southern hemisphere countries is needed.

Methods: The epidemiology of respiratory viruses among healthy children (6 months to <10 years) with influenza-like illness (ILI) was determined in a population sample derived from an influenza vaccine trial (NCT01051661) in 17 centers in eight countries (Australia, South East Asia and Latin America). Active surveillance for ILI was conducted for approximately 1 year (between February 2010 and August 2011), with PCR analysis of nasal and throat swabs.

Results: 6266 children were included, of whom 2421 experienced 3717 ILI episodes. Rhinovirus/enterovirus had the highest prevalence (41.5%), followed by influenza (15.8%), adenovirus (9.8%), parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (both 9.7%), coronavirus (5.6%), human metapneumovirus (5.5%) and human bocavirus (HBov) (2.0%). Corresponding incidence per 100 person-years was 29.78, 11.34, 7.03, 6.96, 6.94, 4.00, 3.98 and 1.41. Except for influenza, respiratory virus prevalence declined with age. The incidence of medically-attended ILI associated with viral infection ranged from 1.03 (HBov) to 23.69 (rhinovirus/enterovirus). The percentage of children missing school or daycare ranged from 21.4% (HBov) to 52.1% (influenza).

Conclusions: Active surveillance of healthy children provided evidence of respiratory illness burden associated with several viruses, with a substantial burden in older children.

Keywords: Active surveillance; Healthy children; Incidence; Influenza-like illness; Prevalence; Respiratory viruses.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Single infection or co-infection with multiple respiratory viruses among ILI episodes in all ages and all countries (total cohort with ILI episodes tested by multiplex PCR). ILI: influenza-like illness; PCR: polymerase chain reaction; RSV: respiratory syncytial virus.
Figure 2
Figure 2
a-h. Monthly distribution of ILI episodes in which respiratory viruses were detected. ILI: influenza-like illness; RSV: respiratory syncytial virus.
Figure 2
Figure 2
a-h. Monthly distribution of ILI episodes in which respiratory viruses were detected. ILI: influenza-like illness; RSV: respiratory syncytial virus.
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