Parainfluenza Virus Infection Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Infected and HIV-Uninfected Children and Adults Hospitalized for Severe Acute Respiratory Illness in South Africa, 2009–2014

Cohen, Adam L.; Sahr, Philip K.; Treurnicht, Florette; Walaza, Sibongile; Groome, Michelle J.; Kahn, Kathleen; Dawood, Halima; Variava, Ebrahim; Tempia, Stefano; Pretorius, Marthi; Moyes, Jocelyn; Olorunju, Steven A. S.; Malope-Kgokong, Babatyi; Kuonza, Lazarus; Wolter, Nicole; von Gottberg, Anne; Madhi, Shabir A.; Venter, Marietjie; Cohen, Cheryl

Parainfluenza virus is associated with a significant amount of severe respiratory disease in South Africa among children <5 years of age, especially those that are infected with HIV. The evidence for this is based on 2 of our findings: the AF and the observed incidence. Among children <5 years of age, a substantial amount of SARI is attributable to PIV, particularly types 1 and 3. The observed incidence of PIV in Soweto, South Africa, is much higher among HIV-infected individuals and is similar to other respiratory viral pathogens such as influenza and human metapneumovirus [13, 17] . Clinicians should recognize PIV as a common cause of respiratory illness in children during the spring season, especially among children that are infected with HIV, and interventions should be developed to prevent and treat PIV disease.