A novel group of rhinoviruses is associated with asthma hospitalizations.
BACKGROUND
Although recent studies have identified new group C human rhinoviruses (HRVCs), their spectrum of pediatric disease is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine the presentation and burden of disease caused by HRVCs among young hospitalized children.


METHODS
We conducted prospective population-based surveillance in 2 US counties among children less than 5 years of age hospitalized with acute respiratory illness or fever from October 2001 through September 2003. Nasal/throat swabs were obtained and tested for HRVs, as determined by means of RT-PCR and then characterized by means of partial sequencing.


RESULTS
Of 1052 children enrolled and tested during the 2-year period, 167 (16%) had HRVs detected. Of 147 samples successfully sequenced, 64 were group A HRVs, 6 were group B HRVs, and 77 were HRVCs. Children with HRVCs were significantly more likely than those with group A HRVs to have underlying high-risk conditions, such as asthma (42% vs 23%, P = .023) and to have had a discharge diagnosis of asthma (55% vs 36%, P = .022).


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, HRVCs were detected in 7% of children hospitalized for fever or respiratory conditions and constituted almost half of all rhinovirus-associated hospitalizations, suggesting that this novel group causes a substantial burden of pediatric disease.
Miller
E Kathryn
EK
Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232-9500, USA. eva.k.miller@vanderbilt.edu
Edwards
Kathryn M
KM
Weinberg
Geoffrey A
GA
Iwane
Marika K
MK
Griffin
Marie R
MR
Hall
Caroline B
CB
Zhu
Yuwei
Y
Szilagyi
Peter G
PG
Morin
Laura-Lee
LL
Heil
Luke H
LH
Lu
Xiaoyan
X
Williams
John V
JV
D000208:Acute Disease; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009518:New York; D010850:Picornaviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012229:Rhinovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification