Korean J Pediatr Infect Dis.  2011 Jun;18(1):61-67.

Epidemiologic Characteristics of Human Bocavirus-Associated Respiratory Infection in Children

• Choi JH
• Paik JY
• Choi EH
• Lee HJ

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was performed to investigate the epidemiologic characteristics of human bocavirus (HBoV)-associated lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in children.
METHODS
Nasopharyngeal aspirate samples were obtained from 658 children who had been hospitalized for LRTIs in Seoul National University (SNU) Children's Hospital and SNU Bundang Hospital from March 2000 to September 2005. Multiplex RT-PCR was performed to detect 11 respiratory viruses including respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, rhinovirus, parainfluenza viruses 1 and 3, influenza viruses A and B, human metapneumovirus, HBoV, human coronavirus (HCoV) OC43/229E, and HCoV-NL63. Clinical data were reviewed retrospectively.
RESULTS
Overall, respiratory viruses were detected in 325 (49.4%) among 658 patients. HBoV was detected in 62 cases (9.4%) and was responsible for 19.1% of virus-positive cases. HBoV was prevalent among infants and young children aged from 3 months to 5 years with the mean age of 25.3 months. Co-detection of HBoV and other respiratory viruses was observed in 37.1% which is significantly higher than average co-detection rate (12.3%) among overall virus-positive cases (P=0.000). HBoV was identified mainly in late spring and early summer from May to July.
CONCLUSION
This study describes epidemiologic features of HBoV in Korean children compared with those associated with other respiratory viruses. HBoV was prevalent among LRTIs in childhood, especially in late spring and early summer season in Korea.

Keyword

Human bocavirus; Epidemiology; Pneumonia; Bronchiolitis

MeSH Terms

Adenoviridae
Aged
Bronchiolitis
Child
Coronavirus
Coronavirus NL63, Human
Human bocavirus
Humans
Infant
Korea
Metapneumovirus
Orthomyxoviridae
Paramyxoviridae Infections
Pneumonia
Respiratory Syncytial Viruses
Respiratory Tract Infections
Rhinovirus
Seasons

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