While the detection rate of typical respiratory infection viruses such as influenza is declining under the epidemic of the new coronavirus infection, the detection rate of rhinovirus is significantly increased in children under 10 years old. It was found in a joint research with Professor Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the Institute of Medical Sciences, the University of Tokyo, and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases and the Yokohama City Institute of Public Health.
According to the University of Tokyo, the research group analyzed samples such as pharyngeal swabs and rhinorrhea collected from 2018 patients with respiratory diseases in Yokohama from January 1 to September 2020, including influenza and simple herpes. An attempt was made to detect a respiratory tract infection virus.
As a result, influenza virus was detected in the highest number of 592 people, followed by rhinovirus in 155 people.However, after the first new coronavirus-infected person was confirmed in Yokohama in February 2020, the detection rate of most respiratory infection viruses such as influenza virus decreased, while rhinovirus was 2 years old. It was found that the number of children under the age of less than twice increased more than usual.
Rhinovirus is known to cause colds, and the number of infected people increases mainly in spring and autumn.Occasionally, it causes complications such as pneumonia and may become severe.
Unlike influenza virus, the surface of rhinovirus is not covered with a lipid film, so the alcohol disinfectant has the property that it is difficult to work.The research group needs to continue investigating and provide widespread information about the risk of infection.
Paper information:[Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses] Increased risk of rhinovirus infection in children during the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic