Frequent detection of bocavirus DNA in German children with respiratory tract infections

BACKGROUND: In a substantial proportion of respiratory tract diseases of suspected infectious origin, the etiology is unknown. Some of these cases may be caused by the recently described human bocavirus (hBoV). The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and the potential clinical relevance of hBoV in pediatric patients. METHODS: We tested 835 nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) obtained between 2002 and 2005 from pediatric in-patients with acute respiratory tract diseases at the University of Würzburg, Germany, for the presence of hBoV DNA. The specificity of positive PCR reactions was confirmed by sequencing. RESULTS: HBoV DNA was found in 87 (10.3 %) of the NPAs. The median age of the infants and children with hBoV infection was 1.8 years (mean age 2.0 years; range 18 days – 8 years). Infections with hBoV were found year-round, though most occurred in the winter months. Coinfections were found in 34 (39.1 %) of the hBoV positive samples. RSV, influenza A, and adenoviruses were most frequently detected as coinfecting agents. Sequence determination of the PCR products in the NP-1 region revealed high identity (99 %) between the nucleotide sequences obtained in different years and in comparison to the Swedish viruses ST1 and ST2. An association of hBoV with a distinct respiratory tract manifestation was not apparent. CONCLUSION: HBoV is frequently found in NPAs of hospitalized infants and children with acute respiratory tract diseases. Proving the clinical relevance of hBoV is challenging, because application of some of Koch's revised postulates is not possible. Because of the high rate of coinfections with hBoV and other respiratory tract pathogens, an association between hBoV and respiratory tract diseases remains unproven

Masern, Mumps, Röteln bei Kindern und Jugendlichen

Masern, Mumps und Röteln sind ubiquitär vorkommende Viruserkrankungen, die sich häufig im Kindes- und Jugendlichenalter manifestieren (typische „Kinderkrankheit“). Masern gehen immer mit einer Immunschwäche einher, die Wochen bis Monate anhalten kann. Zu den schweren, oft tödlichen Komplikationen gehören Masernenzephalitis, weiße Masern und subakute sklerosierende Panenzephalitis (SSPE). Mumps ist in den meisten Fällen eine akute, selbstlimitierende Erkrankung. Die Mumpsinfektion manifestiert sich neben Parotitis als seröse Meningitis, Pankreatitis und Orchitis. Bei Röteln ist die Rötelnembryofetopathie, die progressive Rötelnpanenzephalitis (PRP) und die akute Rötelnenzephalitis gefürchtet. Säuglinge mit konnatalen Röteln müssen bis zum Ende des 1. Lebensjahrs als infektiös betrachtet werden. Gegen alle 3 Erkrankungen stehen wirksame Lebendimpfstoffe zur Verfügung, meist als Drei- oder Vierfachimpfung mit Varizellen (MMR, MMRV)

Analysis (2007)

Infektionen mit dem humanen Bocavirus un

Sonographic findings in coronavirus disease-19 associated liver damage

PurposeThis study was conducted to evaluate the role of liver sonography in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and elevated liver enzymes.Materials and methodsIn this retrospective study, patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in our emergency ward between January 01 and April 24, 2020 and elevated liver enzymes were included (Cohort 1). Additionally, the local radiology information system was screened for sonographies in COVID-19 patients at the intensive care unit in the same period (Cohort 2). Liver sonographies and histologic specimen were reviewed and suspicious findings recorded. Medical records were reviewed for clinical data. Ultrasound findings and clinical data were correlated with severity of liver enzyme elevation.ResultsCohort 1: 126 patients were evaluated, of which 47 (37.3%) had elevated liver enzymes. Severity of liver enzyme elevation was associated with death (pConclusionFor most hospitalized COVID-19 patients, elevated liver enzymes cause little concern as they are only mild to moderate. However, in severely ill patients bedside sonography is a powerful tool to reveal different patterns of vascular, cholestatic or inflammatory complications in the liver, which are associated with high mortality. In addition, macrophage activation as histopathologic correlate for a hyperinflammatory syndrome seems to be a frequent complication in COVID-19