Human Coronavirus in the 2014 Winter Season as a Cause of Lower Respiratory Tract Infection.
10.3349/ymj.2017.58.1.174
- Author:
Kyu Yeun KIM
1
;
Song Yi HAN
;
Ho Seong KIM
;
Hyang Min CHEONG
;
Sung Soon KIM
;
Dong Soo KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children’s Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. DSKIM6634@yuhs.ac
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Coronavirus;
children;
clinical severity;
respiratory viruses;
respiratory syncytial virus
- MeSH:
Child;
Child, Preschool;
Coronavirus/*isolation & purification;
Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology/*virology;
Coronavirus OC43, Human/isolation & purification;
Female;
Hospitalization;
Humans;
Infant;
Male;
Republic of Korea/epidemiology;
Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiology/*virology;
Retrospective Studies;
Seasons
- From:Yonsei Medical Journal
2017;58(1):174-179
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: During the late autumn to winter season (October to December) in the Republic of Korea, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common pathogen causing lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). Interestingly, in 2014, human coronavirus (HCoV) caused not only upper respiratory infections but also LRTIs more commonly than in other years. Therefore, we sought to determine the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, outcomes, and severity of illnesses associated with HCoV infections at a single center in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients with positive HCoV respiratory specimens between October 2014 and December 2014 who were admitted to Severance Children’s Hospital at Yonsei University Medical Center for LRTI. Charts of the patients with HCoV infection were reviewed and compared with RSV infection. RESULTS: During the study period, HCoV was the third most common respiratory virus and accounted for 13.7% of infections. Coinfection was detected in 43.8% of children with HCoV. Interestingly, one patient had both HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-NL63. Mild pneumonia was most common (60.4%) with HCoV, and when combined with RSV, resulted in bronchiolitis. Two patients required care in the intensive care unit. However, compared with that of RSV infection, the disease course HCoV was short. CONCLUSION: Infections caused by HCoVs are common, and can cause LRTIs. During an epidemic season, clinicians should be given special consideration thereto. When combined with other medical conditions, such as neurologic or cardiologic diseases, intensive care unit (ICU) care may be necessary.
