Viral Etiology and Symptoms of Acute Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Children

Authors: EMİN ÜNÜVAR, İSMAİL YILDIZ, AYŞE KILIÇ, SEYHAN SELVİ ASLAN, BÜLENT ÇAKAL, SADIK TOPRAK, SELİM BADUR, FATMA OĞUZ, MÜJGAN SIDAL

Abstract: Aims: To determine viral causes of acute upper respiratory tract infections and clinical findings in children living in Istanbul, Turkey. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was carried out in 234 outpatient children (age range: 1-180 months) with acute upper respiratory tract infections, seen in the outpatient clinic at Istanbul Medical School Children´s Hospital. After clinical findings were recorded, nasal swab specimens were taken. In 201 specimens collected, influenza-A and -B, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and parainfluenza viruses were studied using direct fluorescence antibody, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and cell culture techniques. Results: Rate of virus isolation was 29.8% (60/201). The viruses isolated in decreasing order were influenza-A (36.6%), adenovirus (28.4%), parainfluenza (14.9%), and respiratory syncytial virus (13.5%). All influenza-A cases were type H3N2. The common viruses in children less than 2 years of age were respiratory syncytial virus (63%) and adenovirus (59%), whereas influenza-A was dominant over 2 years of age (82%). Clinical symptoms did not differ among the different viral causes. Conclusions: Viral etiologies in children with acute upper respiratory tract infections were shown at a rate of 29.8% and the most common causes were influenza-A, adenovirus and parainfluenza viruses.

Keywords: Child, infection, respiratory, viral

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