ACUTE RESPIRATORY ILLNESS ASSOCIATED WITH COXSACKIE B4 VIRUS IN CHILDREN

Abstract

An outbreak of respiratory illness in a children's home, associated with Coxsackie B4 infection, occurred in the summer of 1964. The illness was mild, characterized primarily by mild to moderate pharyngitis, fever, and rhinorrhea. The duration of symptoms was 3 to 7 days. No pleurodynia, aseptic meningitis, or other syndromes frequently associated with Coxsackie B4 were noted.

An analysis of sera available from both before and after the outbreak showed that all children without preexisting antibody titers (<1:8) had serological evidence of infection following the outbreak; one-third of the children with preexisting antibody titer (≥1:8) also showed evidence of reinfection. The ratio of subclinical to clinical infections was 3.4 to 1. The data also suggest that the presence of preexisting antibodies did not prevent the development of respiratory illness.

The high prevalence of Coxsackie B4 antibodies in this group and in other studies is noted and may be related to a broad clinical spectrum with a probable preponderance of minor illnesses and frequent inapparent infections.