Incidence of Recurrent Wheezing in Under 5-Year-Old
Human Bocavirus Infection during One Year Follow-up†
Jitladda Deerojanawong MD*,
Araya Satdhabudha MD*, Nuanchan Prapphal MD*,
Suchada Sritippayawan MD*, Rujipat Samransamruajkit MD*
Affiliation :
† This study was presented as an E-Poster in the 52nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Pediatric Research,
Newcastle, United Kingdom
*Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : Human bocavirus (HBoV) is a newly identified virus that can cause acute wheezing in young children. The
present study aimed to evaluate the incidence and factors associated with recurrent wheezing during 1 year after HBoV
lower respiratory tract infection (LRI).
Material and Method: Children younger than 5 years old who were admitted to King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital
between February 1, 2006 and September 30, 2008 due to LRI were recruited. Their nasopharyngeal aspirates were evaluated
for respiratory virus by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. Those who had positive PCR for HBoV and had no
underlying diseases were studied. Their clinical presentations were evaluated and their clinical data about recurrent wheezing
as well as pulmonary function tests were followed-up for 1 year.
Results : Fifteen patients with HBoV-LRI were regularly followed-up. Seven patients (47%) had co-infection with other
respiratory viruses. Generalized wheezing was the most common lung sign detected in 73% of cases (11 cases) and 36%
(4 cases) of them responded well to bronchodilators. During one year follow-up, serial pulmonary function tests were normal
in all cases and most patients were doing well. However, 27% of HBoV infected patients (4 cases) developed recurrent
wheezing associated with respiratory tract infections. Two of them had to be re-hospitalized. Compared to patients without
recurrent wheezing, eosinophil count tended to be higher in those with recurrent wheezing and isolated HBoV infected
patients tended to develop recurrent wheezing more than those with co-infection
Conclusion : Acute wheezing is a common presenting lung sign in HBoV-LRI. Although the pulmonary function tests of all
patients were normal, more than a quarter of patients suffered from recurrent wheezing during one-year follow-up.
Keywords : Human bocavirus, Recurrent wheezing, Children, LRI
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