CORONAVIRUS INFECTION IN 19 INFANTS ADMIT TED TO INTENSIVE-CARE - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY USING IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE

Background. - Coronaviruses (CV) are ARN-containing agents that are re sponsible for mild upper respiratory tract infections in adults and ch ildren. Their pathogenicity in neonates is not wellknow. Population an d methods. - Eighty five samples of tracheal or nasopharyngeal secreti ons were obtained from January to October 1991 from 53 children (29 le ss than I month of age; 19 from 1 month to 1 year; five older than 1 y ear). They were examined for respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, myxovirus influenza and parainfluenza and coronavirus by immunofluores cence (IF). Results. - Nineteen samples from nine newborns and three i nfants were positive for coronavirus. The mean birth weight of the nin e neonates was 2100 +/- 840 g; their mean gestational age was 34 +/- 5 weeks and their mean age at diagnosis was 21 +/- 9 days. Apnea and br adycardia were the main symptoms in this group. Blood C-reactive prote in was not elevated and blood cultures were sterile. One infant was ad mitted for near-miss; the two others were admitted at birth because th ey suffered from chronic lung disease (pulmonary hypoplasia and bronch opulmonary dysplasia). An acute episode of pulmonary deterioration occ urred at the time of coronavirus infection. Both died one at 4 months and the other at 10 months. Conclusion. - Coronaviruses seem to be res ponsible for respiratory tract infections in hospitalized neonates and chronically ventilated infants.