Enterovirus and Parechovirus viraemia in young children presenting to the emergency room: Unrecognised and frequent

S Cordey; A G L'Huillier; L Turin; A Gervaix; K Posfay Barbe; L Kaiser

doi:10.1016/j.jcv.2015.05.003

Enterovirus and Parechovirus viraemia in young children presenting to the emergency room: Unrecognised and frequent

J Clin Virol. 2015 Jul:68:69-72. doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2015.05.003. Epub 2015 May 11.

Authors

S Cordey¹, A G L'Huillier², L Turin³, A Gervaix⁴, K Posfay Barbe², L Kaiser³

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Virology, Infectious Diseases Service, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: samuel.cordey@hcuge.ch.
² University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland; Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Division of General Paediatrics, Department of Paediatrics, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland.
³ Laboratory of Virology, Infectious Diseases Service, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland.
⁴ University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland; Paediatric Emergency Division, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.

PMID: 26071339
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2015.05.003

Abstract

Background: Human Enterovirus (EV) and Parechovirus (HPeV) are well recognised as agents causing disease in neonates, but their importance is poorly described in the general paediatric population consulting with a suspicion of infection.

Objective: We investigated the prevalence of EV- or HPeV-associated infections in children presenting to a paediatric emergency department with a suspicion of infection.

Study design: Plasma specimens collected in our paediatric emergency room for clinical reasons were screened by specific real-time RT-PCR for the presence of EV and HPeV.

Results: Based on an analyses of 233 plasma specimens, up to 6.9% and 2.6% were positive for EV and HPeV, respectively. Amongst the population <3y.o, prevalence of EV and HPeV viraemia was 11% and 3.7%, respectively. Importantly, 56.3% of positive EV specimens were detected in infants >3 months of age.

Conclusion: The prevalence of EV and HPeV viraemia in children <3 years old is largely underestimated. Our results confirm that EV should be suspected and included in the work-up in children >3 months of age and not restricted to neonates.

Keywords: ER consultation; Paediatric; Viraemia.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Blood / virology
Child
Child, Preschool
Emergency Medicine*
Enterovirus / isolation & purification*
Enterovirus Infections / diagnosis*
Enterovirus Infections / epidemiology
Enterovirus Infections / pathology
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Parechovirus / isolation & purification*
Picornaviridae Infections / diagnosis*
Picornaviridae Infections / epidemiology
Picornaviridae Infections / pathology
Pilot Projects
Prevalence
RNA, Viral / blood
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Viremia / diagnosis*
Viremia / epidemiology
Viremia / pathology

Substances

RNA, Viral