title: [Aetiology of bronchiolitis in hospitalised children in South-East Spain].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bronchiolitis is the most common respiratory disease in children under 2 years-old and a major cause of hospitalization in young children, especially during the winter.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and etiology of bronchiolitis in south-east of Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study was conducted during the bronchiolitis season (December-April). Children below 18 months-old admitted to the hospital for a first bronchiolitis episode were included. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were analysed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) respiratory syncytial virus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 235 children were included during this period, and 235 RT-PCR were performed. A total of 287 viruses were detected in nasopharyngeal aspirates from 204 infants. Respiratory syncytial virus was the virus detected more frequently, followed by rhinovirus. Co-infections were found in the 36% of children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Respiratory viruses were detected in most of the children below 18 months-old hospitalised with bronchiolitis, and 36% of them showed a mixed infection.
authors: Unidad de Virología-Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, El Palmar, Murcia, España. carme.salvador@carm.es
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Salvador García
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Moreno Docón
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Piñero
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Alfayate Miguelez
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Iborra Bendicho
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001990:Bronchiolitis, Viral / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain