Epidemiology of coronavirus respiratory infections.
Human coronaviruses were found by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in upper respiratory tract secretions taken during 30% of 108 acute respiratory infections experienced by 30 children under age 6 years with recurrent respiratory infections (index group), and during 29% of 51 acute infections experienced by their siblings. Lower respiratory tract infection--predominantly wheezy bronchitis--occurred in 30% of the index children's coronavirus positive infections but in none of their siblings' infections. Reinfections were common. Two peaks of infection were seen each year in the late autumn/early winter and in the early summer.
D000208:Acute Disease; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003332:Coronaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003333:Coronaviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004739:England; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012621:Seasons