title: Viral etiology among the elderly presenting acute respiratory infection during the influenza season.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute respiratory tract infections are the most common illness in all individuals. Rhinoviruses have been reported as the etiology of more than 50% of respiratory tract infections worldwide. The study prospectively evaluated 47 elderly individuals from a group of 384 randomly assigned for acute respiratory viral infections (cold or flu) and assessed the occurrence of human rhinovirus (HRV), influenza A and B, respiratory syncytial virus and metapneumovirus (hMPV) in Botucatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine nasal swabs collected from 47 elderly individuals following inclusion visits from 2002 to 2003 were tested by GenScan RT-PCR. HRV-positive samples were sequenced for phylogenetic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No sample was positive for influenza A/B or RSV. HRV was detected in 28.6% (14/47) and hMPV in 2% (1/47). Of 14 positive samples, 9 isolates were successfully sequenced, showing the follow group distribution: 6 group A, 1 group B and 2 group C HRVs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high incidence of HRV during the months of the influenza season requires further study regarding HRV infection impact on respiratory complications among this population. Infection caused by HRV is very frequent and may contribute to increasing the already high demand for healthcare during the influenza season.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Virology Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Unit, Medicine Department, São Paulo Federal University, Sao Paulo, Brazil. watanabe@unifesp.br
authors.forename: Aripuanã Sakurada Aranha
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Emerson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carraro
authors.forename: João Manuelo Grisi
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Candeias
authors.forename: Maria Rita
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Donalísio
authors.forename: Elcio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.forename: Celso Francisco Hernandes
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Granato
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bellei
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000235:genetics*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012229:Rhinovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D012621:Seasons