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J Pediatr Infect Dis 2010; 05(03): 255-261
DOI: 10.3233/JPI-2010-0254
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart – New York

The severity of bronchiolitis is not dependent on the co-infection of RSV with other respiratory viruses

Deng Yu
a   Department of Respiratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
,
Chen Jiehua
a   Department of Respiratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
,
Bai Hua
a   Department of Respiratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
,
Wang Lijia
b   Clinic Immunology Laboratory, Children’s Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
,
Liu Wei
b   Clinic Immunology Laboratory, Children’s Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
,
Yang Xiqiang
c   Department of Nephrology and Immunology medicine, Children’s Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
,
Luo Zhengxiu
a   Department of Respiratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
,
Luo Jian
a   Department of Respiratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
,
Zhao Xiaodong
c   Department of Nephrology and Immunology medicine, Children’s Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
,
Fu Zhou
a   Department of Respiratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
,
Liu Enmei
a   Department of Respiratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

28 August 2009

01 March 2010

Publication Date:
28 July 2015 (online)

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Abstract

Bronchiolitis is one of the most common lower respiratory diseases in infants. A correlation between the severity of bronchiolitis and a co-infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as well as other viruses has not yet been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to clarify the impact of RSV co-infection with other viruses on the severity of bronchiolitis and airway inflammation. One hundred and twelve hospitalized children with clinical symptoms of bronchiolitis were prospectively enrolled in this study. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were analyzed to identify RSV, human bocavirus, human metapneumovirus and nine other respiratory viral pathogens. Inflammatory cell counting and concentrations of cytokines/chemokines were also evaluated. The severity of the disease was further determined on the basis of symptom score and duration of hospitalization. Viral pathogens were detected in 84 samples (75%). RSV was detected in 62 samples (55.36%), 31 of which also possessed other viruses. No difference was found between children with bronchiolitis that had RSV as the sole infecting viral agent and those that were infected with RSV and other viruses with respect to the prevalence of symptoms prior to admission to the hospital, the duration of hospitalization and the diagnosis of severe bronchiolitis. The median cellularity, concentrations of cytokines and cell counts of nasopharyngeal aspirates were similar between the two groups of children. The severity of bronchiolitis is not dependent on the co-infection of RSV with other respiratory viruses.

Keywords

Bronchiolitis - respiratory syncytial virus - mixed virus infections - airway inflammation