Skip to main content
PMC home page
Wiley - PMC COVID-19 Collection logoLink to Wiley - PMC COVID-19 Collection
. 2015 Apr 27;45(6):706–711. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1997.tb01474.x

The “Common Cold” in Frail Older Persons: Impact of Rhinovirus and Coronavirus in a Senior Daycare Center

Ann R Falsey 1,✉, Robert M McCann 1, William J Hall 2, Mary M Criddle 1, Maria A Formica 1, Dennis Wycoff 1, John E Kolassa 3
PMCID: PMC7166646  PMID: 9180664

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence and impact of rhino‐virus and Coronavirus infections in older persons attending daycare.

DESIGN: Prospective descriptive study.

SETTING: Three senior daycare centers in Rochester, New York.

PATIENTS: Frail older persons and staff members of the daycare centers who developed signs or symptoms of an acute respiratory illness

MEASUREMENTS: Demographic, medical, and physical findings were recorded on subjects at baseline and during respiratory illness. Nasopharyngeal specimens for viral culture as well as acute and convalescent sera for Coronavirus 229E enzyme immunoassay (EIA) were obtained for all illnesses.

RESULTS: During the 44 months of study, 352 older persons experienced 522 illnesses. Thirty‐five (7%) of 522 cultures were positive for rhinovirus and 37 (8%) of 451 serologies were positive for Coronavirus 229E infection. The clinical syndromes associated with rhinovirus and Coronavirus infection were similar and characterized by nasal congestion, cough, and constitutional symptoms. No patient died or was hospitalized, but approximately 50% had evidence of lower respiratory tract involvement. The average illness lasted 14 days. During the same period, 113 staff developed 338 respiratory illnesses. Eight percent were identified as Coronavirus and 9% as rhinovirus. Cough, sputum production, and constitutional symptoms were significantly more common among older persons.

CONCLUSIONS: Rhinovirus and Coronavirus 229E are common causes of moderately debilitating acute respiratory illnesses among older persons attending daycare.

REFERENCES

  • 1. Fleming DM, Cross KW. Respiratory syncytial virus or influenza?. Lancet 1993; 342:1507–1510. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 2. Larson HE, Reed SE, Tyrell DAJ. Isolation of rhinoviruses and coronaviruses from 38 colds in adults. J Med Virol 1980;5:221–229. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 3. Monto AS, Byran ER, Ohmit S. Rhinovirus infections in Tecumseh, Michigan: Frequency of illness and number of serotypes. J Infect Dis 1987;156:43–49. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 4. Isaacs D, Flowers D, Clark JR et al. Epidemiology of Coronavirus infections. Arch Dis Child 1983;58:500–503. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 5. Reed S. The behavior of recent isolates of human respiratory Coronavirus in vitro and in volunteers: Evidence of heterogeneity among 229E‐related strains. J Med Virol 1984;13:179–192. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 6. Callow KA, Parry HF, Sergeant M, Tyrrell DAJ. The time course of the immune response to experimental Coronavirus infection of man. Epidemiol Infect 1990;105:435–446. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 7. Gwaltney JM, Hendley JO, Simon G, Jordan WS. Rhinovirus infections in an industrial population. II. Characteristics of illness and antibody response. JAMA 1967;202:158–164. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 8. Gwaltney JM, Hendley JO, Simon G, Jordan WS. Rhinovirus infections in an industrial population. I. The occurrence of illness. N Engl J Med 1966;275:1261–1268. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 9. Hamre D, Beem M. Virologic studies of acute respiratory disease in young adults. Am J Epidemiol 1972;96:94–106. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 10. Hendley OJ, Fishburne HB, Gwaltney JM. Coronavirus infection in working adults. Am Rev Resp Dis 1972;105:805–811. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 11. Kaye HS, Dowdle WR. Seroepidemiologic survey of Coronavirus 229E infections in a population of children. Am J Epidemiol 1975;101:238–244. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12. Fox JP, Cooney MK, Hall CE, Foy HM. Rhinoviruses in Seattle families, 1975–1979. Am J Epidemiol 1985;122:830–846. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 13. Monto AS, Ullman BM. Acute respiratory illness in an American community: The Tecumseh study. JAMA 1974;227:164–159. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 14. Falsey AR, McCann RM, Hall WJ et al. Acute respiratory tract infections in daycare centers for older persons. J Am Geriatr Soc 1995;43:30–36. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 15. Nicholson KG, Baker DJ, Farquahar A. Acute upper respiratory tract viral illness and influenza immunization in homes for the elderly. Epidemiol Infect 1990;105:609–618. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 16. Falsey AR, Treanor JJ, Betts RF, Walsh EE. Viral respiratory infections in the institutionalized elderly: Clinical and epidemiologic findings. J Am Geriatr Soc 1992;40:115–119. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 17. Wald TG, Shult P, Krause P et al. A rhinovirus outbreak among residents of a long‐term care facility. Ann Intern Med 1995;123:590–593. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 18. Gwaltney JM Rhinoviruse In: Mandell GL. Bennett JE, Dolin R. Principles and Practices of Infectious Diseases, 4th Ed New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1995, pp 1656–1661. [Google Scholar]
  • 19. Wiselka MJ, Kent J, Cookson JB, Nicholson KG. Impact of respiratory virus infection in patients with chronic chest disease. Epidemiol Infect 1993; 111:337–346. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 20. Buscho RO, Saxtan D, Shultz PS et al. Infections with viruses and mycoplasma pneumonia during exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. J Infect Dis 1978;137:377–383. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 21. Smith CB, Golden CA, Kanner RE, Renseh AD. Association of viral and mycoplasma pneumoniae infections with acute respiratory illness in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. Am Rev Respir Dis 1980;121:225–232. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 22. Minor TE, Dirk EC, Demco AN et al. Viruses as precipitants of asthmatic attacks in children. JAMA 1974;227:292–298. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 23. Falsey AR, Cummingham CK, Barker WH et al. Respiratory syncytial virus and influenza A infections in the hospitalized elderly. J Infect Dis 1995;172:389–394. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 24. Centers for Disease Control. Parainfluenza outbreaks in extended‐care facilities — United States. MMWR 1978;27:475–476. [Google Scholar]
  • 25. Barker WH. Excess pneumonia and influenza hospitalization in the US due to infzuenza epidemics, 1970–78. Am J Public Health 1986;76:761–765. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 26. Naclerio RM, Proud D, Lichtenstein LM et al. Kinins are generated during experimental rhinovirus colds. J Infect Dis 1988;157:133. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 27. Graman PG, Hall CB. Epidemiology and control of nosocomial virus infections. Infect Dis Clin North Am 1989;3:815–841. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 28. Gwaltney JM, Moskalski PB, Hendley JO. Hand‐to‐hand transmission of rhinovirus colds. Ann Intern Med 1978;88:463–467. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 29. Dick EC, Jennings LC, Mink KA et al. Aerosol transmission of rhinovirus colds. J Infect Dis 1987;156:442–448. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 30. Thacker SB, Addiss DG, Goodman RA et al. Infectious diseases and injuries in child day care: Opportunities for healthier children. JAMA 1992;268:1720–1726. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 31. Drinka PJ, Krause P, SCHilling M et al. Report of an outbreak: Nursing home architecture and Influenza‐A attack rates. J Am Geriatr Soc 1996;44:910–913. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of the American Geriatrics Society are provided here courtesy of Wiley

RESOURCES