RHINOVIRUS INFECTIONS IN HOSPITALIZED CHI LDREN - A 3-YEAR STUDY

Background - Rhinoviruses (RH) are responsible for acute respiratory i llnesses, mainly in the upper respiratory tract. Population and method s. -3,152 children aged under 16 years, admitted to the Paediatrics de partment of the University Hospital Centre of Poitiers from January 1, 1993 to December 31, 1995 with ear, nose and throat (ENT) and/or resp iratory symptoms were systematically investigated. One hundred and for ty-five RH strains were isolated fr om nasopharyngeal secretions of 87 boys and 58 girls (mean age: 20.3 months). Among these, 92 (63.4%) we re less than 1 year of age. Bacteriological investigations were done f or 29 patients when a concomitant bacterial infection was suspected. R esults. - RH infection rate was maximum before 1 year of age (median a ge: 6.5 months) and decreased with age. RH were isolated throughout th e 3 years, with a first peak from February to April, and a second one in autumn. The main symptoms were sibilants (27.6%) and cough (24.1%). Sibilants were more frequently associated in children under 12 months of age (P = 0.01). Sometimes, ophthalmologic or digestive symptoms we re present. Three children with respiratory distress were transferred to the reanimation ward. In addition, a RH strain it as isolated from a child who died of sudden infant death. Thirty-four children (23.4%) were co-infected by one or several viruses; the most frequently defect ed were the respiratory syncytial virus (41.2%) and the adenoviruses ( 35.3%). Twenty-nine children were infected by two viruses and five by three. Associated bacterial infections were diagnosed in 23 children, especially conjunctivitis due to Haemophilus influenzae (21.7%). Among these children, eight had a multiple viral infection. Conclusion. - R H have a limited pathogenicity but can be associated with serious illn esses among infants and childen. (C) 1998, Elsevier, Paris.