[Viral etiology and risk factors for severe community-acquired pneumonia in children].
OBJECTIVE
To study the virus spectrum of severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and risk factors for the disease in children.


METHODS
Respiratory secretion specimens were collected from 1096 children hospitalized with CAP from June 2007 to November 2008, including 100 cases of severe CAP. Respiratory viruses were detected by PCR, nest-PCR or RT-PCR. Clinical data on the children were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis for examining risk factors for severe CAP.


RESULTS
Viral pathogens were isolated from 82 (82%) of the 100 cases with severe CAP. RSV was the most common (37%), followed by HBoV (25%) and HRV (18%). Mixed infection was noted in 32 cases (32%). The presence of underlying diseases (OR=6.623, P<0.01) and RSV infection (OR=1.672, P<0.05) were risk factors for severe CAP in children, while age was a protective factor (OR=0.475, P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
RSV is the most frequent viral pathogen in children with severe CAP. The presence of underlying diseases and RSV infection may be risk factors for severe CAP, while age is a protective factor.
Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, Changsha 410005, China.
Xiao-Fang
XF
Ding
Bing
B
Zhang
Li-Li
LL
Zhong
Ni-Guang
NG
Xiao
Qiong-Hua
QH
Zhou
Zhao-Jun
ZJ
Duan
Zhi-Ping
ZP
Xie
Han-Chun
HC
Gao
D002675:Child, Preschool; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D056661:Human bocavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000821:virology*; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012307:Risk Factors