Virus isolations from common colds occurring in a residential school

Abstract

Colds in boys aged 12–17 living in a boarding-school have been studied by clinical and laboratory method The pattern and incidence of respiratory diseases fluctuated through the year, but in each term viruses were isolated in human-embryo-kidney cell cultures from nasal secretions from cases of colds. The overall rate was 30% from 59 cases. Two of four washings which did not yield viruses produced colds in volunteers. The symptoms in the boys from whom viruses were recovered varied somewhat but could not be closely correlated with those found in the volunteers who received virus and also developed colds. Serological findings showed that about two-thirds of the boys had no antibodies against two of the viruses present in the school (E.C.H.O. 28 and B632) and yet no epidemic developed, sugesting that these viruses spread poorly in the community. We acknowledge with thanks the help given to us during this study by Dr. D. Stone and Dr. D. R. Gamble, successive Directors of the Public Health Laboratory, Epsom, who carried out the bacteriological tests; Dr. G. Cook, Director of the Public Health Laboratory, Guildford, who carried out the routine serological tests; Dr. T. S. L. Beswick, of the Biological Standards Laboratory, Hampstead, who sent us serum specimens and the Distillers Company Ltd., Great Burgh, Epsom, who generously gave one of us (E. J. C. K.) supplies of “cardice”. © 1962, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.