Hospitalization due to human parainfluenza virus-associated lower respiratory tract illness in rural Thailand.
BACKGROUND
Human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs) are an important cause of acute respiratory illness in young children but little is known about their epidemiology in the tropics.


METHODS
From 2003-2007, we conducted surveillance for hospitalized respiratory illness in rural Thailand. We performed reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction on nasopharyngeal specimens and enzyme immunoassay on paired sera.


RESULTS
Of 10,097 patients enrolled, 573 (5%) of all ages and 370 (9%) of children <5 years of age had evidence of HPIV infection (HPIV1=189, HPIV2=54, HPIV3=305, untyped=27). Average adjusted annual incidence of HPIV-associated hospitalized respiratory illness was greatest in children aged <1 year (485 per 100,000 person years).


CONCLUSIONS
In Thailand, HPIV caused substantial illnesses requiring hospitalization in young children.
Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Oliver W
OW
Morgan
Malinee
M
Chittaganpitch
Birgit
B
Clague
Somrak
S
Chantra
Wichai
W
Sanasuttipun
Prabda
P
Prapasiri
Sathapana
S
Naorat
Yongjua
Y
Laosirithavorn
Teresa C T
TC
Peret
Dean D
DD
Erdman
Henry C
HC
Baggett
Sonja J
SJ
Olsen
Alicia M
AM
Fry
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*; D018098:Paramyxovirinae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*; D012423:Rural Health; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult