ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To determine the viral cause of laryngeal croup by use of highly sensitive methods, and including recently recognized viruses in the analysis. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred forty-four consecutive children with hoarse voice and inspiratory stridor attending the emergency department were enrolled. Age- and season-matched children presenting with a wheezing illness served as control subjects (n = 76). Nasopharyngeal swabs were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction for rhinovirus and enterovirus, coronavirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza virus (PIV), influenza A and B virus, human bocavirus, human metapneumovirus, adenovirus, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. RESULTS: Virus infection was documented in 80% of patients with croup and 71% of control subjects. Children with croup had significantly more positive test results for PIV 1 and 2 (31% vs 4% and 6% vs 0%, respectively) and significantly fewer positive test results for RSV (15% vs 28%) than wheezing children. Rhinoviruses and enteroviruses were present equally in both groups (21% vs 25%). There was no significant difference in the frequency of influenza A virus or human bocavirus. Few subjects with adenovirus or M. pneumoniae were detected. CONCLUSION: Acute laryngeal croup is most often associated with PIV, RSV, rhinovirus, and enterovirus. Rhinovirus and enterovirus appeared equally often in croup and in wheezing illness. During late fall, they were found in 39% and 40%, respectively, of the tested samples.
Subject(s)
Croup/virology , Nasopharynx/virology , RNA, Viral/metabolism , Respiratory Tract Infections/virology , Case-Control Studies , Child, Preschool , Cohort Studies , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Viral LoadABSTRACT
Introducción: Laringotraqueobronquitis (LTB) es una condición frecuente en niños, con escasos estudios publicados en la literatura nacional. Objetivo: Caracterizar los episodios de LTB en nuestra institución. Método: Estudio retrospectivo descriptivo del 2001 al 2003. Resultados: 68 pacientes sufrieron 72 episodios de LTB. La edad promedio fue 16,5 meses, 62 por ciento eran varones. La mayoría de los ingresos ocurrieron en otoño (65 por ciento). El número de días promedio de síntomas previo al ingreso fue 2, siendo los más frecuentes estridor (85 por ciento), tos seca (78 por ciento) y fiebre (72 por ciento). La estadía promedio duró 1 día. Se identificó virus Parainfluenza en 12 de 23 inmunofluorescencias. La terapia incluyó adrenalina (100 por ciento), corticoides (96 por ciento), oxígeno (15 por ciento), salbutamol (11 por ciento) y antibióticos (11 por ciento). Las complicaciones fueron neumonía (3 por ciento) y traqueitis bacteriana (2 por ciento). Conclusión: En nuestra serie, LTB fue más frecuente en varones y menores de 2 años, con clara estacionalidad, estadías hospitalarias cortas y un bajo riesgo de complicaciones.
Subject(s)
Male , Humans , Female , Infant , Child, Preschool , Bronchitis/epidemiology , Bronchitis/virology , Croup/epidemiology , Croup/virology , Parainfluenza Virus 1, Human , Age Distribution , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use , Bronchodilator Agents/therapeutic use , Bronchitis/drug therapy , Chile/epidemiology , Croup/drug therapy , Epidemiology, Descriptive , Hospitalization , Nebulizers and Vaporizers , Retrospective Studies , Respiratory Sounds/etiology , SeasonsABSTRACT
The presence of antibodies against human parainfluenza viruses type 2 and 3 was studied in 1 793 sera from an infantile population under 14 years old. The hemagglutination inhibition technique was used for screening the clinical samples. Of the total of analyzed sera, 1 382 (77.1%) were positive. The presence of antibodies against type 2 was confirmed in 320 of them (17.8%), and against type 3 in 334 (18.6%). The simultaneous seropositivity predominated in 805 (44.9%). The circulation of human parainfluenza viruses was corroborated during all the months of the year and in all the analyzed age groups. It was observed an increase in the positivity percentages with age.