Calvo, CristinaAlcolea, SoniaCasas Flecha, InmaculadaPozo Sanchez, FranciscoIglesias-Caballero, MariaGonzález-Esguevillas, MónicaGarcía-García, María Luz2024-02-022024-02-022020-08Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2020 Aug;39(8):653-657.http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/17432Background: Human coronaviruses (HCoVs) have been recognized as causative agents of respiratory tract infections.Our aim was to describe HCoV infections in hospitalized children in a prospective surveillance study for 14 years and compare them with other respiratory viruses. Methods: As a part of an ongoing prospective study to identify the etiology of viral respiratory infections in Spain, we performed the analysis of HCoV infections in children hospitalized in a secondary hospital in Madrid, between October 2005 and June 2018. Clinical data of HCoV patients were compared with those infected by rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus and influenza. Results: The study population consisted of 5131 hospitalizations for respiratory causes in children. A total of 3901 cases (75.9%) had a positive viral identification and 205 cases (4.1%) were positive for HCoV. Only 41 cases (20%) of HCoV infection were detected as single infections. Episodes of recurrent wheezing were the most common diagnosis, and 112 children (54%) had hypoxia. Clinical data in HCoV cases were similar to those associated with rhinovirus; however, patients with HCoV were younger. Other viruses were associated with hypoxia more frequently than cases with HCoV; high fever was more common in influenza infections and bronchiolitis in respiratory syncytial virus group. Although a slight peak of circulation appears mostly in winter, HCoV has been detected throughout the year as well. Conclusions: HCoV infections represent a small fraction of respiratory infections that require hospitalization in children and their characteristics do not differ greatly from other respiratory viral infections.engVoRhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/HospitalizationAdolescentAge DistributionBetacoronavirusBronchiolitis, ViralCOVID-19ChildChild, PreschoolCoronavirus InfectionsCoronavirus NL63, HumanCoronavirus OC43, HumanFemaleFeverHumansHypoxiaInfantInfant, NewbornInfluenza, HumanMaleMiddle East Respiratory Syndrome CoronavirusPandemicsPicornaviridae InfectionsPneumonia, ViralProspective StudiesRespiratory SoundsRespiratory Syncytial Virus InfectionsRespiratory Tract InfectionsRhinovirusSevere acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirusSARS-CoV-2SeasonsSevere Acute Respiratory SyndromeSeverity of Illness IndexSpainAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internacional32453196398653-65710.1097/INF.00000000000027601532-0987The Pediatric infectious disease journalopen access