Epidemiology of rhinovirus under the COVID-19 pandemic in Guangzhou, China, 2020

Abstract

Background: To analyze the epidemic characteristics of the human rhinovirus (HRV) outbreaks in Guangzhou, China, in 2020.

Methods: Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the HRV-related outbreaks in Guangzhou, 2020.

Results: Seventeen outbreaks were reported in 2020 during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Guangzhou, a total of 465 patients (290 males and 175 females) were enrolled, with a median age of 10. A total of 223 (47.96%) had been tested for HRV, 89 (39.91%) of which were positive; 344/465 (73.98%) had a fever, 138/465 (29.68%) had a runny nose, 139/465 (29.89%) had a sore throat, 86/465 (18.49%) had a cough, 41/465 (8.82%) had a headache, and 37/465 (7.96%) had a sneeze. Patients at age of 13-15 had the highest rate of sore throat and runny nose, patients aged 11-12 had the highest rate of sneezing, and patients at age of 12-14 had the highest rate of positive rate. Patients tested positive had a higher rate of fever (χ² = 11.271, p = .001), cough (χ² = 6.987, p = .008), runny nose (χ² = 7.980, p = .005), and sneeze (χ² = 4.676, p = .031).

Conclusion: The HRV was restored during the fighting of the COVID-19 pandemic. The conventional COVID-19 control measures were not effective enough in preventing rhinovirus. More appropriate control measures should be used to control HRV.

Keywords: coronavirus disease 2019; human rhinovirus; outbreaks; pandemic; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.