tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Front Pediatr
. 2022 Apr 12;10:877759.
doi: 10.3389/fped.2022.877759. eCollection 2022.
Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Human Coronaviruses-Associated Infections in Children: A Multi-Center Study
Kyo Jin Jo[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Soo-Han Choi[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Chi Eun Oh[SUP] 3 [/SUP], HyeonA Kim[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Bong Seok Choi[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Dae Sun Jo[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Su Eun Park[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: Human coronaviruses (HCoVs) are associated with upper respiratory tract infections. Although studies have analyzed the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of HCoV-associated infections, no multi-center studies have been conducted in Korean children. We aimed to describe the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of HCoV-associated infection in children.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of children in whom HCoVs were detected using multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction amplification in five centers from January 2015 to December 2019.
Results: Overall, 1,096 patients were enrolled. Among them, 654 (59.7%) patients were male. The median age was 1 year [interquartile range (IQR), 0-2 years]. HCoVs were identified mainly in winter (55.9%). HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, and HCoOV-NL63 were detected mainly in winter (70.9, 55.8, and 57.4%, respectively), but HCoV-HKU1 was mainly identified in spring (69.7%). HCoV-OC43 (66.0%) was detected most frequently, followed by HCoV-NL63 (33.3%), and HCoV-229E (7.7%). Two different types of HCoVs were co-detected in 18 samples, namely. Alphacoronavirus-betacoronavirus co-infection (n = 13) and, alphacoronavirus-alphacoronavirus co-infection (n = 5). No betacoronavirus-betacoronavirus co-infection was detected. Patients were diagnosed with upper respiratory tract infection (41.4%), pneumonia (16.6%), acute bronchiolitis (15.5%), non-specific febrile illness (13.1%), croup (7.3%), and acute gastroenteritis (5.1%). There were 832 (75.9%) hospitalized patients with a median duration of hospitalization of 4 days (IQR, 3-5 days); 108 (9.9%) patients needed supplemental oxygen with 37 (3.4%) needing high-flow nasal cannula or mechanical ventilation. There were no deaths.
Conclusion: HCoV-associated infections exhibit marked seasonality with peaks in winter. Patients with lower respiratory tract infection, a history of prematurity, or underlying chronic diseases may progress to a severe course and may need oxygen therapy.
Keywords: children; human coronavirus; multi-center study; multiplex polymerase chain reaction; prognosis.
. 2022 Apr 12;10:877759.
doi: 10.3389/fped.2022.877759. eCollection 2022.
Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Human Coronaviruses-Associated Infections in Children: A Multi-Center Study
Kyo Jin Jo[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Soo-Han Choi[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Chi Eun Oh[SUP] 3 [/SUP], HyeonA Kim[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Bong Seok Choi[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Dae Sun Jo[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Su Eun Park[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 35498812
- PMCID: PMC9039334
- DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.877759
Abstract
Background: Human coronaviruses (HCoVs) are associated with upper respiratory tract infections. Although studies have analyzed the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of HCoV-associated infections, no multi-center studies have been conducted in Korean children. We aimed to describe the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of HCoV-associated infection in children.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of children in whom HCoVs were detected using multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction amplification in five centers from January 2015 to December 2019.
Results: Overall, 1,096 patients were enrolled. Among them, 654 (59.7%) patients were male. The median age was 1 year [interquartile range (IQR), 0-2 years]. HCoVs were identified mainly in winter (55.9%). HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, and HCoOV-NL63 were detected mainly in winter (70.9, 55.8, and 57.4%, respectively), but HCoV-HKU1 was mainly identified in spring (69.7%). HCoV-OC43 (66.0%) was detected most frequently, followed by HCoV-NL63 (33.3%), and HCoV-229E (7.7%). Two different types of HCoVs were co-detected in 18 samples, namely. Alphacoronavirus-betacoronavirus co-infection (n = 13) and, alphacoronavirus-alphacoronavirus co-infection (n = 5). No betacoronavirus-betacoronavirus co-infection was detected. Patients were diagnosed with upper respiratory tract infection (41.4%), pneumonia (16.6%), acute bronchiolitis (15.5%), non-specific febrile illness (13.1%), croup (7.3%), and acute gastroenteritis (5.1%). There were 832 (75.9%) hospitalized patients with a median duration of hospitalization of 4 days (IQR, 3-5 days); 108 (9.9%) patients needed supplemental oxygen with 37 (3.4%) needing high-flow nasal cannula or mechanical ventilation. There were no deaths.
Conclusion: HCoV-associated infections exhibit marked seasonality with peaks in winter. Patients with lower respiratory tract infection, a history of prematurity, or underlying chronic diseases may progress to a severe course and may need oxygen therapy.
Keywords: children; human coronavirus; multi-center study; multiplex polymerase chain reaction; prognosis.