Detection of respiratory viruses in asymptomatic children undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation†
Conflict of interest: Dr. Hayden has served as a consultant for Eragen Biosciences. None of the other authors has a commercial or other association that might pose a conflict of interest.
Abstract
Detection of respiratory viruses by molecular methods, in children without respiratory symptoms undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), has not been well described. A prospective study of 33 asymptomatic children detected respiratory viruses in 8 of 33 (24%) patients before HCT. Human rhinovirus (HRV) was detected in five patients, and human adenovirus (hADV) in three patients. Two additional patients shed HRV, and one shed human coronavirus (hCoV), post-HCT. Two patients had co-infections. Of the 11 asymptomatic patients where respiratory virus was detected, 3 (27%) later developed an upper respiratory tract infection, from the same virus. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013; 60: 149–151. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
