title: Acute respiratory tract infections of children in hospital: a viral and Mycoplasma pneumoniae profile.
abstract: Respiratory specimens and blood were collected from all infants and children admitted with acute respiratory illness to a paediatric unit in Christchurch from May to November (late autumn, winter and spring) 1983, to define the viral aetiological agents involved. A virus or Mycoplasma pneumoniae was identified in 160 (50%) of 317 children studied by the rapid indirect immunofluorescence, virus culture and/or serological techniques. Aetiological agents were detected in 71% of children with bronchiolitis, 57% with pneumonia, 53% with bronchitis, 40% with laryngotracheitis (croup), and 45% with upper respiratory tract illness. Respiratory syncytial virus was the most frequently identified virus, confirming the importance of this virus as a cause of respiratory illness requiring hospitalisation of young children in Christchurch. An epidemic due to influenza A/Dunedin/7/83 (HINI) and A/New Caledonia/4/83 (HINI) viruses occurred during the study period.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Allan
mesh_terms: D001990:Bronchiolitis, Viral / Q000382:microbiology; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003440:Croup / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000382:microbiology; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000382:microbiology*; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D018108:Respirovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010253:Respirovirus Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*