Source: Annual Congress 2002 - Early influences on respiratory health and disease
Disease area: Paediatric lung diseases, Respiratory infections

Abstract

Introduction. Influenza epidemics that exceed respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) epidemics in hospitalized infants are rarely reported. (Glezen,WP et al.JAMA 1980;243:1345-9) Influenza virus is less likely to be associated with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) - less than 1% of infants. (Taussig,LM et al.Am J Epidemiol 1989;129:1219-31) Studies have not supported a significant role for influenza virus type C in LRTI from birth to 3 years of age.
Material and methods. 115 paired sera from hospitalised from October 1999 to July 2000 cases, mean age 10 (range 0.5-30) months, with acute respiratory infections, were assayed for respiratory viruses: influenza subtype A(H1N1) and A(H3N2), type B and C (by hemagglutination inhibition test), adenoviruses, RSV and parainfluenza viruses (by complement fixation test).
Results: We detected rising titres (3-4 fold or more) for influenza A(H1N1) in 2 patients (1.7%), influenza A(H3N2) in 52(45.2%), influenza B in 5(4.3%), influenza C in 13(11.3%), adenovirus in 1(0.9%), RSV in 2(1.7%) and parainfluenza virus in 1(0.9%). Influenza viruses were present in 19(54.3%) of children with URTI and 42(52.5%) with LRTI with the highest rate (70%) in the youngest age (0-3 months) in contrast to the almost undetected other viruses.

We could not detect an RSV epidemic during two winter seasons from 1998 to 2000.
Conclusion: Influenza viruses could be associated with LRTI in hospitalised infants and young children to a much higher degree than previously reported and present a major respiratory threat in the absence of RSV. Influenza viruses type B and C were predominantly associated with LRTI. In our country influenza epidemics appear to be displacing RSV.

Rating:

Share or cite this content

Citations should be made in the following way:
D. N. Dimova -Yaneva, H. G. Pachev, R. J. Kotzeva (Plovdiv, Sofia, Bulgaria). Influenza viruses as etiologic agents of the acute respiratory infections in infancy and early childhood - is their role underestimated?. Eur Respir J 2002; 20: Suppl. 38, 1136

Member's Comments

No comment yet.

Related content which might interest you: Rhinovirus infections in infancy and early childhood Source: Eur Respir J 2013; 41: 443-452 Year: 2013 Early-life viral respiratory infections and childhood asthma inception - can we unlink the association? Source: International Congress 2018 – Infectious agents and childhood asthma Year: 2018 The role of respiratory viruses in etiological structure of exacerbation of chronic and recurrent lung diseases in children Source: Eur Respir J 2007; 30: Suppl. 51, 391s Year: 2007 Do childhood respiratory infections continue to influence adult respiratory morbidity? Source: Eur Respir J 2009; 33: 237-244 Year: 2009 Early childhood infections with rotavirus and norovirus are associated with risk of developing asthma Source: Annual Congress 2011 - Risk and detection of childhood asthma and allergy Year: 2011 The etiological role of common respiratory viruses in acute respiratory infections in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis Source: International Congress 2018 – Respiratory epidemiology:  from infectious diseases to lung cancer Year: 2018 How resistance is changing the etiology of acute and chronic respiratory infections? Source: International Congress 2015 – Antibiotic resistance in respiratory infections Year: 2015 RSV and human metapneumovirus – major pathogens of childhood – also adults and the elderly? Source: Annual Congress 2005 - Major viral threats to the lung Year: 2005 Viral etiologies in childhood wheezing illness, asthma and respiratory infections Source: International Congress 2019 – Aetiology and management of childhood respiratory infections, primary ciliary dyskinesia and asthma Year: 2019 Role of emerging respiratory viruses in severe acute wheezing episodes in children Source: Annual Congress 2009 - How viruses, allergic rhinitis and air pollution affect childhood asthma Year: 2009 Infantile respiratory syncytial virus and human rhinovirus infections: respective role in inception and persistence of wheezing Source: Eur Respir J 2015; 45: 774-789 Year: 2015 Update on management of new emerging acute respiratory viral infectious diseases Source: International Congress 2018 – Chinese Programme 2018: Part I Year: 2018 The role of atypical pathogens in etiology of respiratory tract infection among pediatric patients in Georgia Source: Eur Respir J 2002; 20: Suppl. 38, 193s Year: 2002 Respiratory pathogens, immunodeficiency or systemic response – What comes first in the etiology of severe community-acquired pneumonia (sCAP) Source: Annual Congress 2013 –Biomarkers, diagnosis and outcome of respiratory infections Year: 2013 Current treatments for respiratory infections in children Source: Annual Congress 2005 - PG5 - Paediatrics: respiratory infections in children Year: 2005 Prevention of the recurrent acute respiratory viral infections in children Source: Annual Congress 2012 - Viral infections and rare respiratory infections Year: 2012 Respiratory syncitial virus infection in hospitalized Brazilian infants with acute lower respiratory disease: incidence and associated factors Source: Eur Respir J 2005; 26: Suppl. 49, 628s Year: 2005 Comparison of risk factors for childhood pneumonia with RSV versus other viruses Source: International Congress 2016 – Paediatric respiratory infections Year: 2016 The role of chronic infection in respiratory diseases Source: International Congress 2018 – Chinese Programme 2018: Part I Year: 2018