RESUMO
Objective To discuss the etiology and clinical characteristics of human rhinovirus (HRV) as pathogen of central nervous system infection .Methods Two hundred and five cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens were collected from children with fever and convulsions who were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit with suspicion of central nervous system infection from June 2011 to December 2012 .Genome Lab Genetic Analysis System (GeXP) was applied to detect HRV from CSF .Specimens with positive results were amplified by nested reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction and followed by gene sequencing . Clinical data of HRV positive cases were analyzed . Results Of the 205 CSF specimens ,7 samples were positive for HRV ,which were composed of 2 HRV‐A ,1 HRV‐B and 4 HRV‐C (including 1 HRV‐Ca) .There were 6 boys and 1 girl among the 7 positive cases for HRV .Six children were less than 3 years old ,except one was 9 years old .The onset time was mainly concentrated between September and October . The main clinical manifestations were fever and convulsions . The clinical diagnosis before the pathogen confirmation included viral encephalitis ,epilepsy ,febrile convulsion ,benign infantile convulsions with mild gastroenteritis (CwG ) and hand‐foot‐and‐mouth disease ( HFMD ) . Although the disease severity of the 7 cases varied ,all ended with favorable prognosis .Conclusions HRV is one of pathogens of viral central nervous system infection .All types of HRV can cause central nervous system infection ,among which HRV‐C accounts for the majority .The clinical manifestations of HRV central nervous system infection could mimic febrile convulsion ,CwG and HFMD .