tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Med Virol
. 2021 Nov 16.
doi: 10.1002/jmv.27460. Online ahead of print.
Evaluation of human coronavirus OC43 and SARS-COV-2 in children with respiratory tract infection during the COVID-19 pandemic
Nasrin Keshavarz Valian[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Babak Pourakbari[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Kosar Asna Ashari[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Reihaneh Hosseinpour Sadeghi[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Shima Mahmoudi[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is an overwhelming crisis across the world. Human Coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43) is a Betacoronavirus responsible mostly for mild respiratory symptoms. Since the presentations of HCoV-OC43 and SARS-COV-2 are believed to resemble a lot, the aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of HCoV-OC43 in the current pandemic and the rate of co-infection for the two viruses.
Methods: One hundred and seventeen patients referred to Children's Medical Center, Tehran, Iran with respiratory symptoms were included. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods were performed for detection of HCoV-OC43 and SARS-COV-2.
Result: Totally, 23 (20%) had a positive RT-PCR for HCoV-OC43 and 25 (21%) were positive for SARS-COV-2. Two patients (2%) had a positive PCR for both HCoV-OC43 and SARS-COV-2. The two groups showed significant differences in having contact with family members with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 (P value= 0.017), fever (P value= 0.02), edema (P value= 0.036), vomiting (P value <0.001), abdominal complaints (P value= 0.005) and myalgia (P value= 0.02). The median level of lymphocyte count in patients with HCoV-OC43 was significantly lower than patients with SARS-COV-2 infection (P value= 0.039).
Conclusion: The same frequency of SARS-COV-2 and HCoV-OC43 was found in children with respiratory symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rate of co-infection of SARS-COV-2 with HCoV-OC43 in our study was 0.08. Further research into the co-circulation of endemic coronaviruses, such as HCoV-OC43 and SARS-CoV2, in different regions is highly recommended. Attempts to determine the geographic distribution and recruit more flexible test panel designs are also highly recommended. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Keywords: HCoV-OC43; Human Coronavirus; SARS-COV-2; children.
. 2021 Nov 16.
doi: 10.1002/jmv.27460. Online ahead of print.
Evaluation of human coronavirus OC43 and SARS-COV-2 in children with respiratory tract infection during the COVID-19 pandemic
Nasrin Keshavarz Valian[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Babak Pourakbari[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Kosar Asna Ashari[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Reihaneh Hosseinpour Sadeghi[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Shima Mahmoudi[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 34786736
- DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27460
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is an overwhelming crisis across the world. Human Coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43) is a Betacoronavirus responsible mostly for mild respiratory symptoms. Since the presentations of HCoV-OC43 and SARS-COV-2 are believed to resemble a lot, the aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of HCoV-OC43 in the current pandemic and the rate of co-infection for the two viruses.
Methods: One hundred and seventeen patients referred to Children's Medical Center, Tehran, Iran with respiratory symptoms were included. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods were performed for detection of HCoV-OC43 and SARS-COV-2.
Result: Totally, 23 (20%) had a positive RT-PCR for HCoV-OC43 and 25 (21%) were positive for SARS-COV-2. Two patients (2%) had a positive PCR for both HCoV-OC43 and SARS-COV-2. The two groups showed significant differences in having contact with family members with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 (P value= 0.017), fever (P value= 0.02), edema (P value= 0.036), vomiting (P value <0.001), abdominal complaints (P value= 0.005) and myalgia (P value= 0.02). The median level of lymphocyte count in patients with HCoV-OC43 was significantly lower than patients with SARS-COV-2 infection (P value= 0.039).
Conclusion: The same frequency of SARS-COV-2 and HCoV-OC43 was found in children with respiratory symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rate of co-infection of SARS-COV-2 with HCoV-OC43 in our study was 0.08. Further research into the co-circulation of endemic coronaviruses, such as HCoV-OC43 and SARS-CoV2, in different regions is highly recommended. Attempts to determine the geographic distribution and recruit more flexible test panel designs are also highly recommended. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Keywords: HCoV-OC43; Human Coronavirus; SARS-COV-2; children.