title: Extremely low risk for acquisition of a respiratory viral infection in the emergency room of a large pediatric hospital during the winter season.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of transmission of respiratory viral infections to children visiting the emergency room of a large pediatric hospital during winter. A total of 615 children were prospectively studied. Twenty-two (3·6%) children developed at least one symptom compatible with a respiratory viral infection within 1-7 days after the visit, including cough (12 children), fever (8), rhinorrhea (7), and/or respiratory distress (1). Three children (0·49%) developed an influenza-like illness. These findings indicate that transmission of respiratory viral infections to children visiting an emergency room during the winter season is extremely low.
authors.affiliation: Department for Interventions in Health-Care Facilities, Hellenic Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Helena C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Maltezou
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mougkou
authors.forename: Hara
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Asimaki
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koniaraki
authors.forename: Panos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Katerelos
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giannaki
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Theodoridou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D012621:Seasons; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology