[Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of respiratory virus infections among adults hospitalized during 2004 influenza season].
BACKGROUND
During yearly influenza (FLU) season, FLU viruses are well represented among hospitalized patients as in the community. Also, other respiratory viruses could be represented among adult in-patients.


OBJECTIVE
to describe the presence and clinical- epidemiological characteristics of non-FLU respiratory virus infections (respiratory syncytial-RSV, parainfluenza and adenovirus-ADV) among hospitalized adults during FLU season and to compare with FLU-A (IA) or -B (IB) cases.


METHODS
Adult patients hospitalized at Hospital Clínico Universidad Católica between May to July 2004 with a respiratory virus infections confirmed by rapid antigen test or direct immunofluorescence of IA, IB (Flu group) or RSV, parainfluenza (1-2-3) and ADV (non-Flu group) were included.


RESULTS
86 cases were identified: 73.5% FLU (48.2% IA, 25.3% IB) and 26.5% non-FLU (15.7% parainfluenza-2; 8.4% RSV; 1.2% parainfluenza-3; 1.2% ADV). No differences were observed in general characteristics and evolution of patients. In FLU-group were more frequently observed myalgia, cough, hospitalization due to febrile syndrome, higher values of C-reactive protein and band leukocytes count (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
During 2004 FLU season a 26.5 % of respiratory viral infection were due to non-FLU viruses among adult hospitalized in our centre. The difficulty to difference FLU vs. non-FLU infections, suggest that it is necessary to include other respiratory virus in the viral etiological diagnosis, even in FLU season.
Rabagliati B
Ricardo
R
Departamento de Medicina Interna, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. rabagli@med.puc.cl
Serri V
Michel
M
Perret P
Cecilia
C
Guzmán D
Ana M
AM
Azócar A
Teresa
T
Habash A
Leila
L
Espinoza L
Claudia
C
Ferrés G
Marcela
M
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D018108:Respirovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012189:Retrospective Studies