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. 2019 Apr 8;219(8):1198-1206.
doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiy646.

Human Coronavirus in Hospitalized Children With Respiratory Tract Infections: A 9-Year Population-Based Study From Norway

Inger Heimdal  1 , Nina Moe  1   2 , Sidsel Krokstad  3 , Andreas Christensen  1   3 , Lars Høsøien Skanke  1   2 , Svein Arne Nordbø  1   3 , Henrik Døllner  1   2
Affiliations

Human Coronavirus in Hospitalized Children With Respiratory Tract Infections: A 9-Year Population-Based Study From Norway

Inger Heimdal et al. J Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: The burden of human coronavirus (HCoV)-associated respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in hospitalized children is poorly defined. We studied the occurrence and hospitalization rates of HCoV over 9 years.

Methods: Children from Sør-Trøndelag County, Norway, hospitalized with RTIs and asymptomatic controls, were prospectively enrolled from 2006 to 2015. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were analyzed with semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for HCoV subtypes OC43, 229E, NL63, and HKU1, and 13 other respiratory pathogens.

Results: HCoV was present in 9.1% (313/3458) of all RTI episodes: 46.6% OC43, 32.3% NL63, 16.0% HKU1, and 5.8% 229E. Hospitalization rates for HCoV-positive children with lower RTIs were 1.5 and 2.8 per 1000 <5 and <1 years of age, respectively. The detection rate among controls was 10.2% (38/373). Codetections occurred in 68.1% of the patients and 68.4% of the controls. In a logistic regression analysis, high HCoV genomic loads (cycle threshold <28 in PCR analysis) were associated with RTIs (odds ratio = 3.12, P = .016) adjusted for relevant factors.

Conclusions: HCoVs occurred in 1 of 10 hospitalized children with RTIs and asymptomatic controls. A high HCoV genomic load was associated with RTI. HCoVs are associated with a substantial burden of RTIs in need of hospitalization.

Keywords: asymptomatic controls; children; hospitalization rates; human coronaviruses; respiratory tract infections.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Number of detections per month of human coronavirus (HCoV) subtypes in nasopharyngeal aspirates from children hospitalized with respiratory tract infections from November 2006 to July 2015. Gray shade represents the total number of HCoV detections and colored area represent HCoV subtypes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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