Association between human rhinovirus C and severity of acute asthma in children

TLDR

A newly identified human rhinovirus group C (HRVC) is considered potentially more pathogenic than other HRV groups. The study aimed to determine whether HRVC is present in children with acute asthma and whether it leads to more severe attacks than other viruses or HRV groups. Researchers recruited 128 children aged 2–16 years presenting with acute asthma to an emergency department, assessed asthma severity, and identified respiratory viruses and HRV strains from nasal aspirates. HRVC was detected in 59.4% of the children, was associated with higher asthma severity scores, and accounted for the majority of severe asthma attacks in hospitalized children, outperforming other HRV groups and non‑HRV viruses.

Abstract

A new and potentially more pathogenic group of human rhinovirus (HRV), group C (HRVC), has recently been discovered. We hypothesised that HRVC would be present in children with acute asthma and cause more severe attacks than other viruses or HRV groups. Children with acute asthma (n = 128; age 2–16 yrs) were recruited on presentation to an emergency department. Asthma exacerbation severity was assessed, and respiratory viruses and HRV strains were identified in a nasal aspirate. The majority of the children studied had moderate-to-severe asthma (85.2%) and 98.9% were admitted to hospital. HRV was detected in 87.5% and other respiratory viruses in 14.8% of children, most of whom also had HRV. HRVC was present in the majority of children with acute asthma (59.4%) and associated with more severe asthma. Children with HRVC (n = 76) had higher asthma severity scores than children whose HRV infection was HRVA or HRVB only (n = 34; p = 0.018), and all other children (n = 50; p = 0.016). Of the 19 children with a non-HRV virus, 13 had HRV co-infections, seven of these being HRVC. HRVC accounts for the majority of asthma attacks in children presenting to hospital and causes more severe attacks than previously known HRV groups and other viruses.