Viral etiology and Epidemiology of Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Hospitalized Children (Choongchung Province in May 2001 through April 2004)

Park, Joon Soo

Abstract

PURPOSE
Acute respiratory tract infection is one of the most common illnesses in children. Causes of acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) are known to be caused by bacteria, mycoplasma, and respiratory viruses. There is a wide geographic variation regarding the relative importance of each viral agent. This study was to examine the seasonal occurrences of respiratory viruses and the viral etiologic agents, and age, sex distribution, clinical manifestations of viral ALRI in children of the Choongchung Province area. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from 2, 209 hospitalized children on the first day of admission at Soonchunhyang University Hospital at Cheonan and examined by indirect immunofluorescent staining from May 2001 through April 2004. RESULTS: Viral agents were detected in 26.4% (583/2, 209). The pathogens identified were RSV 62.1% (366), parainfluenza virus 14.6% (85), adenovirus 13.7% (80), Influenza virus type A 59.3 percent (54), Influenza virus type B 0.1% (5). Outbreaks of RSV infections occurred every year but mostly in January 2003 and December 2003. Infections with influenza virus type A, B, parainfluenza virus and adenovirus occurred in epidemics. The occurrence of viral ALRI was highest in the 1st year of life. The clinical patterns of viral ALRI were pneumonia (48.9%), bronchiolitis (36.7%), tracheobronchitis (9.5%), and croup (4.0%). The most common cause of bronchiolitis was RSV. CONCLUSIONS: Viral agents were detected by indirect immunofluorescent staining in 26.4% (583 cases) from NPA of 2, 209 hospitalized pediatric patients with acute respiratory tract diseases in the Choongchung Province from May 2001 through Apr 2004. RSV, Influenza virus type A, B, parainfluenza virus and adenovirus in pediatric ALRI have had their own characteristic outbreak patterns and clinical features in this area.