Parainfluenza virus type 4 infections in pediatric patients.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and epidemiology of parainfluenza virus type 4 infections in pediatric patients.


METHODS
Hospital records of 13 patients from whom parainfluenza virus type 4 was isolated were retrospectively reviewed.


RESULTS
Parainfluenza virus type 4 infection was associated with upper respiratory tract disease, severe lower respiratory tract disease requiring hospitalization in 10 of 13 patients and aseptic meningitis. Nine of the 10 hospitalized patients were < 24 months old (mean age, 8.3 months) and required hospitalization for 4 to 25 days (mean, 5.5 days).


CONCLUSIONS
Serious illnesses associated with parainfluenza virus type 4 infections are more common than previously recognized.
Lindquist
S W
SW
Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Darnule
A
A
Istas
A
A
Demmler
G J
GJ
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000821:virology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019213:Rubulavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019351:Rubulavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*