Viral pathogens of acute lower respiratory tract infection in China.
OBJECTIVE
To document the viral etiology of acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRIs) in Chinese children.


METHODS
Children Hospital, Zhejiang University, China.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
34885 children with ALRI between January 2001 to December 2006.


METHODS
Nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from all subjects. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus (ADV), type 1 to 3 parainfluenza viruses (PIV), and type A and B influenza virus (Flu) were detected by direct immunofluorescence.


RESULTS
Viruses were identified in 32.3% cases, including RSV (23.6%), PIV 3 (4.3%), Flu A (2.0%), ADV (1.7%), PIV I (0.6%), Flu B (0.2%) and PIV 2 (0.1%). RSV and PIV 3 predominated in younger children while Flu A and Flu B predominated in older children (P<0.001, respectively). PIV 1 was more prevalent in children aged 1 to 3 years. The peak frequency of RSV, PIV 3 and Flu A were in early spring, June to August, and August and September, respectively. Flu B had a peak in the winter and spring. Adenovirus infections occurred in all seasons with a relatively constant frequency.


CONCLUSIONS
Viruses are an important cause of ALRIs in Chinese children constituting 1/3 of total cases. RSV is the most common pathogen.
Tang
Lan Fang
LF
Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
Wang
Tian Lin
TL
Tang
Hong Feng
HF
Chen
Zhi Min
ZM
D000208:Acute Disease; D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology; D010222:Parainfluenza Virus 1, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010223:Parainfluenza Virus 2, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010224:Parainfluenza Virus 3, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology