Frequency of common viruses in etiology of acute respiratory tract infections.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency rate of C. pneumoniae, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus, metapneumovirus, adenovirus', parainfluenza virus and coronavirus in acute respiratory tract infections in children.


METHODS
One hundred nine pediatric patients having respiratory tract infections were included in this study. Real time PCR, DFA and cell culture method were used for detection of C. pneumoniae, RSV antigen and influenza virus respectively. Multiplex PCR was used for detection of other viruses.


RESULTS
No C. pneumoniae DNA was detected in the samples. Virus was detected in 43 cases from larynx swabs (43/109, 39.4 %). The frequency order of the viral agents detected were as follows; rhinoviruses 14.7 %, RSV B 7.3 %, influenza A 6.4 %, metapneumovirus 3.6 %, adenovirus 3.6 %, coronavirus 0.9 %, parainfluenzavirus type 3, 0.9 %, parainfluenzavirus type 4, 0.9 % and RSV A 0.9 %. Sensitivity of the PCR and DFA methods for the diagnosis of RSV infections were detected as 100 % and 100 %, respectively. Specificity of the PCR and DFA methods for RSV infections were detected as 97 % and 100 % respectively. Sensitivity of the PCR and cell culture methods for influenzavirus infections were detected as 100 % and 100 %, respectively. Specificity of the PCR and DFA methods for RSV infections were detected as 96 % and 100 % respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of viral agents was detected as 39.4 %. Influenza viruses and RSV were common. Metapneumovirus was also frequent (3.6 %). C. pneumoniae was not found to be a common agent for acute respiratory disease in children.
Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Hayati
H
Beka
Ayse
A
Kilic
Emin
E
Unuvar
Mustafa
M
Onel
Fatma
F
Oguz
Mujgan
M
Sidal
Seyhan
S
Aslan
Emel
E
Bozkaya
Selim
S
Badur
Ali
A
Agacfidan
D000208:Acute Disease; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000821:virology*
D004279:DNA, Viral