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Original Articles
Viral Etiology and Epidemiology of Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Children
Hoan Jong Lee, Bo Young Yun, Mi Ran Kim, Chong Ku Yun
Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
Vol.27 Num.4 (p319~332)
Background : Respiratory tract infection is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Causes of acute lower respiratory tract infections(ALRI) in infants and children are diverse and include bacteria, mycoplasma, and respiratory viruses. Thers is, however, a wide geographic variation regarding the relative importance of each agent. It is necessary to identify the etiology and epidemiology of ALRI in each community to employ control measures including vaccine policy. In Korea, there haeve been no published data regarding the the viral etiology and epidemiology of ALRI.
Methods : Viral etiologic agents of ALRI were studied from November 1990 through April 1994 in Korean children. 804 nasal aspirates were collected from 712 children, who visited or were admitted to Seoul National University Children's Hospital due to acute LRI, and viral agents were detected by virus isolation and/or antigen detection by indirect immunofluorescent staining.
Results : One or more viral agents were identified in 369(45.9%) cases, of which 3.3% were mixed(two viral) infections. The pathogens identified were respiratory syncytial virus(RSV)(27.2%), parainfluenza virus type 3(7.8%), influenza A virus(3.9%), adenovirus(3.9%), parainfluenza virus type 1(1.7%), influenza B virus (1.4%), parainfluenza virus type 2(0.5%), measles virus(0.1%), and others(0.9%). The clinical patterns of viral LRI included pneumonia(56.6%), bronchiolitis(35.2%), croup (6.5%), and tracheobronchitis(1.6%). Infections with RSV, parainfluenza virus type 1 and 3, and influenza A and B virus occurred in epidemics, while adenovirus was isolated sporadically throughout the study period.
Conclusion : We studied the etiologic agents and epidemiology of viral ALRI in Korean children, the results of which may be helpful to the clinicians and researchers interested in the control of LRI.
Keywords : Respiratory infection, Respiratory syncytial virus, Adenovirus, Influenza virus, Parainfluenza virus