title: Etiology of acute lower respiratory tract infections in children in a rural community in The Gambia.
abstract: Approximately 500 children younger than 5 years old resident in 7 villages in a rural area of The Gambia were monitored closely for 1 year for episodes of acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI). Each episode was investigated with antigen detection techniques and antibody assays as well as culture for bacteria and viruses. A pathogen was identified in 76 (34.2%) of 222 cases with clinical signs of ALRI and in 34 (42%) of the 81 cases who, in addition, had radiologic evidence of ALRI. Evidence of infection with a bacterial pathogen, most commonly Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae, was obtained in 32 (14.4%) cases with clinical signs of ALRI (23.5% of those with radiologically proved pneumonia). Viral agents were cultured from 42 (19%) of 221 cases but also from 14 (14.6%) of 96 controls some of whom had minor symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection. In the absence of an outbreak of respiratory syncytial virus the viral agents recovered most often were influenza A and adenoviruses.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Laboratories, Fajara, Banjul, The Gambia.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Forgie
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lloyd-Evans
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leinonen
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saikku
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Whittle
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Greenwood
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005714:Gambia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D012423:Rural Health; D012698:Serologic Tests; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis