Rhinovirus‐Associated Hospitalizations in Young Children

TLDR

Rhinoviruses are common causes of the common cold but have not been regarded as major contributors to acute respiratory hospitalizations in children, prompting a population‑based surveillance study of children under five hospitalized with respiratory symptoms or fever in Tennessee and New York during 2000‑2001. The study collected questionnaires, nasal and throat swabs for viral culture and PCR, and chart review from 592 hospitalized children under five, then calculated rhinovirus‑associated hospitalization rates and compared rates between children with and without a history of wheezing/asthma. Rhinovirus was detected in 26% of the 592 children, yielding an overall rate of 4.8 (95% CI 4.3‑5.2) hospitalizations per 1,000 children, with age‑specific rates of 17.6, 6.0, and 2.0 per 1,000 for 0‑5, 6‑23, and 24‑59 month olds, respectively, and children with a history of wheezing/asthma experienced a markedly higher rate (25.3 vs 3.1 per 1,000).

Abstract

Rhinoviruses frequently cause the common cold but have not been considered important causes of acute respiratory hospitalizations in children.A population-based surveillance study was performed among children <5 years of age who were hospitalized with respiratory symptoms or fever and who resided within counties encompassing Nashville, Tennessee, or Rochester, New York, from October 2000 through September 2001. Data collected included questionnaires, nasal and throat swabs for viral culture and polymerase chain reaction testing, and chart review. Rates of rhinovirus-associated hospitalizations were calculated.Of 592 children enrolled, 156 (26%) were rhinovirus positive, representing 4.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.3-5.2) rhinovirus-associated hospitalizations/1000 children. Age-specific rates per 1000 children were 17.6 (95% CI, 14.9-20.6) for 0-5-month-olds, 6.0 (95% CI, 5.0-7.0) for 6-23-month-olds, and 2.0 (95% CI, 1.6, 2.4) for 24-59-month-olds (P<.01). Children with a history of wheezing/asthma had significantly more rhinovirus-associated hospitalizations than those without a history (25.3/1000 children [95% CI, 21.6-29.5/1000 children] vs. 3.1/1000 children [95% CI, 2.7-3.5/1000 children]).Rhinoviruses were associated with nearly 5 hospitalizations/1000 children <5 years of age and were highest in children with a history of wheezing/asthma.