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NEWLY DISCOVERED RESPIRATORY VIRUSES CAUSE SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY TRACT
INFECTIONS IN PREVIOUSLY HEALTHY CHILDREN
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F.M. Moesker , A.A. van der Eijk , A.M.C. van Rossum , M. de Hoog , A.D.M.E. Osterhaus , P.L.A. Fraaij
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Virology, Erasmus Medical Center, Virology, Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Pediatric
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Intensive Care Unit, Virology, Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit,
Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Background: Respiratory viruses are a well-known cause of severe acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI)
in children. However to which extent the newly discovered human bocavirus, human coronaviruses
(NL63/HKU1), and human metapneumovirus contribute to severe ARTI's in healthy children remains a
matter of debate. Especially in the light of underlying disease and/or (bacterial) co-infections, which are often
thought to be the primary reason for severe illness.
Aim: To study whether recently discovered respiratory viruses can cause severe ARTI's in previously
healthy children.
Methods: Patients (0-18 years) of whom respiratory tract samples were screened for 15 respiratory viruses
were retrospectively identified in our department's diagnostics database. We subsequently selected those
admitted to the ICU for further analysis. Patients admitted for disease not linked to viral infection were
excluded. Clinical and lab parameters were extracted from the electronic medical records of the selected
patients.
Results: A total of 2071 patients were identified in our database, of which 3269 samples were taken (mainly
nasal washes). Infection with a single virus was shown in 171/735 patients, who were admitted to the ICU.
42 of those 171 had a bacterial infection (Group 1), 96 patients had a medical history (Group 2), and 33
were previously healthy children until admission (Group 3). Primary reason for admission was severe ARTI
(±75%). For detailed virological data see Table 1.
Conclusions: Newly discovered viruses are detected as sole pathogen in previously healthy children
admitted to the ICU for severe ARTI's.
[Table 1.]