Abstract
Acute bronchiolitis represents the leading cause of hospitalization in infants. Together with a respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus (RV) is one of the most common pathogens associated with bronchiolitis, and its genetic diversity (>150 types) makes the recurrence of RV infections each year quite typical. The frequency of RV infection and co-infection with other viruses and its impact on the clinical course of bronchiolitis have been studied by several authors with controversial results. Some studies demonstrate that multiple virus infections result in more severe clinical presentation and a higher risk of complications, whereas other studies suggest no influence on clinical course. Moreover, RV bronchiolitis has been reported to potentially contribute to the development of long-term sequelae, such as recurrent wheezing and asthma, in the pediatric population. In the present review, we summarize the most recent findings of the role of RV infection in children with acute bronchiolitis, its impact on subsequent asthma development, and the implication in clinical practice.
Highlights
Rhinovirus (RV) is a non-enveloped single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the Enterovirus genus in the Picornaviridae family
The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the role of RV infection in children with acute bronchiolitis and to depict its potential impact on the clinical course of the illness and the subsequent development of asthma in the pediatric population
Many studies have investigated whether the severity of acute bronchiolitis—mainly measured by clinical score indexes (CSIs), oxygen requirement, ventilatory support, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) admission, and length of hospital stay (LOS)—is associated with specific viral infections or co-infections, with controversial results
Summary
Rhinovirus (RV) is a non-enveloped single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the Enterovirus genus in the Picornaviridae family. Bronchiolitis is defined by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) as a constellation of signs and symptoms, including a viral upper respiratory tract prodrome, followed by increased respiratory effort and wheezing in children under the age of two [9].In Europe, by contrast, the term bronchiolitis is generally referred to as a first episode of acute lower airway infection in infants younger than one year [7] It is characterized by few days of rhinorrhea, fever, and cough, which precede the signs of lower respiratory distress associated with wheeze and/or crackles on chest auscultation. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the role of RV infection in children with acute bronchiolitis and to depict its potential impact on the clinical course of the illness and the subsequent development of asthma in the pediatric population
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