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Original Articles
Characterization of Respiratory Viral Infection in Children in Gwangju
JIn Jong Seo, Ph.D.1, Min Ji Kim, Ms.1, Sun Hee Kim, Ph.D.1, Hye Young Kee, Ms.1, Jae Keun Chung, Ph.D.1, Eun sun Kim, Ph.D.1, Jong Tae Park, Ph.D.1, Kyoung Sim Kim, M.D.2, Su-ya Lee, M.D.3, Myung Goun Kim, Ms.4, and Yoon Seok Chung, Ph.D.5
1Health and Environment Institute of Gwangiu, 2Department of Pediatrics, Gwang-ju Christian Hospital, 3Yesarang pediatric clinic 4Health and Hygiene Division of Gwangiu City, 5Division of Influenaza and Respiratory Viruses, Center for Infectious Disease, National Institute of Health, Seoul, Korea
Vol.40 Num.4 (p218~229)
Background:This investigation was to perform the epidemiological surveillance and genetic analysis on respiratory viral agents from children with acute respiratory infections in Gwangju.
Materials and Methods:For this study, 3,695 specimens obtained from patients with acute respiratory infections were collected by collaboration with pediatric hospitals in Gwangju between 2005 and 2007. Specimens were screened for 8 respiratory viruses including influenza viruses (IFV), human rhinoviruses (HRV), human coronaviruses (HCoV), adenoviruses (ADV), parainfluenza viruses (PIV), human enteroviruses (HEV), respiratory synthitial viruses (RSV) and human bocaviruses (HBoV). Respiratory viruses were detected using multiplex (RT) PCR with viral specific primers.
Results: Out of 3,695 specimens, the ratio of virus detection was 24.9% (919). Overall, HRV (35.5%) and IFV (34.9%) were the most common viruses found, followed by HBoV (14.8%), HCoV (10.6%), RSV (3.7%), ADV (3.4%), PIV (3.2%) and HEV (3.0%). In addition, multiple infections were detected in 80 patients (8.7%). When the prevalence was analyzed according to season, HBoV, IFV and HCoV showed two epidemic points in late spring and early winter. ADV, HRV, RSV PIV and HEV, however, were all found to have only one epidemic point, with RSV being most common during winter and the others being most prominent during spring.
Conclusions:Through this epidemiological surveillance, the respiratory viruses prevalent in children in Gwangju area were investigated. We strongly recommend the development of nationwide policy for the management of prevalent respiratory virus that includes long term collection of data and samples, vaccine development and prevention education of the misuse of antibiotics.
Keywords : Respiratory Viral Infection, Multiplex RT-PCR, Children