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Epidemiol Infect. 2019 Jan;147:e176. doi: 10.1017/S0950268819000505.
Rates of asymptomatic respiratory virus infection across age groups.
Galanti M1, Birger R1, Ud-Dean M1, Filip I2, Morita H1, Comito D1, Anthony S3, Freyer GA1, Ibrahim S1, Lane B1, Matienzo N1, Ligon C1, Rabadan R2, Shittu A1, Tagne E1, Shaman J1.
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Abstract
Respiratory viral infections are a leading cause of disease worldwide. A variety of respiratory viruses produce infections in humans with effects ranging from asymptomatic to life-treathening. Standard surveillance systems typically only target severe infections (ED outpatients, hospitalisations, deaths) and fail to track asymptomatic or mild infections. Here we performed a large-scale community study across multiple age groups to assess the pathogenicity of 18 respiratory viruses. We enrolled 214 individuals at multiple New York City locations and tested weekly for respiratory viral pathogens, irrespective of symptom status, from fall 2016 to spring 2018. We combined these test results with participant-provided daily records of cold and flu symptoms and used this information to characterise symptom severity by virus and age category. Asymptomatic infection rates exceeded 70% for most viruses, excepting influenza and human metapneumovirus, which produced significantly more severe outcomes. Symptoms were negatively associated with infection frequency, with children displaying the lowest score among age groups. Upper respiratory manifestations were most common for all viruses, whereas systemic effects were less typical. These findings indicate a high burden of asymptomatic respiratory virus infection exists in the general population.
PMID: 31063096 DOI: 10.1017/S0950268819000505
Rates of asymptomatic respiratory virus infection across age groups.
Galanti M1, Birger R1, Ud-Dean M1, Filip I2, Morita H1, Comito D1, Anthony S3, Freyer GA1, Ibrahim S1, Lane B1, Matienzo N1, Ligon C1, Rabadan R2, Shittu A1, Tagne E1, Shaman J1.
Author information
Abstract
Respiratory viral infections are a leading cause of disease worldwide. A variety of respiratory viruses produce infections in humans with effects ranging from asymptomatic to life-treathening. Standard surveillance systems typically only target severe infections (ED outpatients, hospitalisations, deaths) and fail to track asymptomatic or mild infections. Here we performed a large-scale community study across multiple age groups to assess the pathogenicity of 18 respiratory viruses. We enrolled 214 individuals at multiple New York City locations and tested weekly for respiratory viral pathogens, irrespective of symptom status, from fall 2016 to spring 2018. We combined these test results with participant-provided daily records of cold and flu symptoms and used this information to characterise symptom severity by virus and age category. Asymptomatic infection rates exceeded 70% for most viruses, excepting influenza and human metapneumovirus, which produced significantly more severe outcomes. Symptoms were negatively associated with infection frequency, with children displaying the lowest score among age groups. Upper respiratory manifestations were most common for all viruses, whereas systemic effects were less typical. These findings indicate a high burden of asymptomatic respiratory virus infection exists in the general population.
PMID: 31063096 DOI: 10.1017/S0950268819000505