Interleukin-13 associates with life-threatening rhinovirus infections in infants and young children.

ObjectiveDelineate risk factors associated with severe hypoxemia (O-2 sat 87%) in infants and children younger than 2 years hospitalized with single pathogen HRV infection. Study DesignProspective study in a yearly catchment population of 56560 children <2 years old between 2011 and 2013 in Argentina. All children with respiratory signs and O-2 sat <93% on admission were included. HRV infections were identified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Epidemiologic, clinical, viral, and immunological risk factors were assessed. ResultsAmong 5012 hospitalized patients, HRV was detected as a single pathogen in 347 (6.92%) subjects. Thirty-two (9.2%) had life-threatening disease. Traditional risk factors for severe bronchiolitis did not affect severity of illness. HRV viral load, HRV groups, and type II and III interferons did not associate with severe hypoxemia. Interleukin-13 Levels in respiratory secretions at the time of admission (OR=7.43 (3-18.4); P<0.001 for IL-13 >10pg/mL) predisposed to life-threatening disease. ConclusionsTargeted interventions against IL-13 should be evaluated to decrease severity of HRV illness in infancy and early childhood.