Healthy Children Shed Respiratory Viruses for a Long Time

In one quarter of young children with several common respiratory viruses, detection persisted for at least 4 weeks.

Almost a decade ago, the high prevalence of respiratory viral infections among young children was demonstrated in a longitudinal study (NEJM JW Infect Dis Oct 2015 and Clin Infect Dis Oct 2015; 61:1217); nonetheless, quantifying the duration of viral shedding has been challenging. Now, in the PREVAIL cohort study spanning 15 months in Cincinnati and involving healthy mother-infant pairs, investigators have identified factors influencing the shedding of common respiratory viruses.

Infant nasal swabs collected weekly by mothers were tested with PCR for influenza A and B, RSV, human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza 1, 2, and 3, rhino/enterovirus, bocavirus, and endemic human coronaviruses. Weekly surveys of symptoms as well as medical records yie…

Reviewing Author

Deborah Lehman, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Deborah Lehman, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Healthy Children Shed Respiratory Viruses for a Long Time

Topics

Reviewing Author