Respiratory tract viruses

Author(s):  
Malik Peiris

Viral respiratory infections, including coronavirus, rhinovirus, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza viruses, and influenza viruses, are a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, most notably the COVID-19 pandemic. Transmission occurs through direct contact, contaminated fomites, and large airborne droplets, with long-range transmission by small particle aerosols reported in at least some instances of influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome. Clinical syndromes affect the upper and/or lower respiratory tract, including coryza, pharyngitis, croup, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia. Each syndrome can potentially be caused by several viruses, and each respiratory virus can be associated with different clinical syndromes. Measles is a major cause of lower respiratory tract infections and fatality in tropical countries.

2020 ◽  
pp. 723-734
Author(s):  
Malik Peiris

Viral respiratory infections, including rhinovirus, coronavirus, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza viruses, and influenza viruses, are a substantial cause of morbidity worldwide. Transmission occurs through direct contact, contaminated fomites, and large airborne droplets, with long-range transmission by small particle aerosols reported in at least some instances of influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome. Clinical syndromes affect the upper and/or lower respiratory tract, including coryza, pharyngitis, croup, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia. Each syndrome can potentially be caused by several viruses, and each respiratory virus can be associated with different clinical syndromes. Measles is a major cause of lower respiratory tract infections and fatality in tropical countries.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng Lei ◽  
Lisong Yang ◽  
Cheong Tat Lou ◽  
Fan Yang ◽  
Kin Ian SiTou ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are among the leading causes of hospitalization in children. Understanding the local dominant viral etiologies is important to inform infection control practices and clinical management. This study aimed to investigate the viral etiology and epidemiology of respiratory infections among pediatric inpatients in Macao. Methods A retrospective study using electronic health records between 2014 and 2017 at Kiang Wu Hospital was performed. Nasopharyngeal swab specimens were obtained from hospitalized children aged 13 years or younger with respiratory tract diseases. xMAP multiplex assays were employed to detect respiratory agents including 10 respiratory viruses. Data were analyzed to describe the frequency and seasonality. Results Of the 4880 children enrolled in the study, 3767 (77.1%) were positive for at least one of the 13 viral pathogens tested, of which 2707 (55.5%) being male and 2635 (70.0%) under 2 years old. Among the positive results, there were 3091 (82.0%) single infections and 676 (18.0%) multiple infections. The predominant viruses included human rhinovirus/enterovirus (HRV/EV 27.4%), adenovirus (ADV, 15.8%), respiratory syncytial virus B (RSVB, 7.8%) and respiratory syncytial virus A (RSVA, 7.8%). The detection of viral infection was the most prevalent in autumn (960/1176, 81.6%), followed by spring (1095/1406, 77.9%), winter (768/992, 77.4%), and summer (944/1306, 72.3%), with HRV/EV and ADV being most commonly detected throughout the 4 years of study period. The detection rate of viral infection was highest among ARI patients presented with croup (123/141, 87.2%), followed by lower respiratory tract infection (1924/2356, 81.7%) and upper respiratory tract infection (1720/2383, 72.2%). FluA, FluB and ADV were positive factors for upper respiratory tract infections. On the other hand, infection with RSVA, RSVB, PIV3, PIV4, HMPV, and EV/RHV were positively associated with lower respiratory tract infections; and PIV1, PIV2, and PIV3 were positively associated with croup. Conclusions This is the first study in Macao to determine the viral etiology and epidemiology of pediatric patients hospitalized for ARIs. The study findings can contribute to the awareness of pathogen, appropriate preventative measure, accurate diagnosis, and proper clinical management of respiratory viral infections among children in Macao.


2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 252-254
Author(s):  
Figen Gülen ◽  
Candan Cicek ◽  
Zafer Kurugol ◽  
Esen Demir ◽  
Dost Zeyrek ◽  
...  

The present study was aimed to investigate characteristics of lower respiratory tract infections caused by parainfluenza type 3 viruses. Nasopharyngeal smears were taken from 178 patients with lower respiratory infections for the diagnosis of respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, influenza and parainfluenza viruses between December 2004 and April 2005. Parainfluenza type 3 was isolated from the viral specimens of 96 (53.9%) patients and it was noticeable that the parainfluenza type 3 outbreak occurs during winter. Obviously, improving the aetiological diagnosis of viral infections might avoid unnecessary therapy, antibiotics in particular, and would allow for preventive isolation of infected patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Vasiliki Epameinondas Georgakopoulou ◽  
Georgios Petsinis ◽  
Konstantinos Mantzouranis ◽  
Christos Damaskos ◽  
Despoina Melemeni ◽  
...  

Human coronavirus HKU1 (HCoV-HKU1) is a RNA virus which gets in the human cells by binding to the receptor of  N-acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid. Human Coronaviruses (HCoVs), including HCoV-HKU1, are globally found. HCoV-HKU1 is responsible for upper and lower respiratory tract infections, usually with mild symptoms. In severe cases, HCoV-HKU1 can cause life-threatening respiratory illness especially in vulnerable hosts such as elderly, children and immunocompromised patients. In Greece, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and influenza are the most common viruses causing respiratory tract infections. Traditionally, HCoVs are responsible for less than 3% of respiratory infections in Greek population. HCoVs 229E and OC43 have been shown to circulate in Greece. We report the first case of lung infection in an immunocompromised woman due to HCoV-HKU1, that has never been before detected in Greece. HCoV-HKU1 is related to severe disease even in healthy individuals and must be considered in the differential diagnosis of severe respiratory infections.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-218
Author(s):  
Stephen Berman ◽  
Alvaro Duenas ◽  
Alvaro Bedoya ◽  
Victor Constain ◽  
Saul Leon ◽  
...  

A surveillance system for acute lower respiratory tract illnesses was implemented February 1977 in five neighborhood health clinics. Of the 1,229 patients with an illness identified during the 25 months from Feb 1, 1977 to Feb 28, 1979, there were 38 with croup, 451 with tracheobronchitis, 339 with bronchiolitis, and 401 with pneumonia. Forty-two percent of the illnesses occurred in children less than 1 year of age and 66% occurred in children less than 2 years of age. A viral infection was diagnosed in 20% of the patients by viral cultures and/or fourfold rises in complement fixation antibody titers in acute and convalescent sera. A viral agent was identified in 29% of patients with croup, 20% with tracheobronchitis, 22% with bronchiolitis, and 17% with pneumonia. Four viral agents, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) adenovirus, parainfluenza viruses, and influenza viruses accounted for 94% of the cases associated with a viral infection. RSV was associated with 9% of the cases, adenovirus with 6.8%, parainfluenza with 2.1%, and influenza with 1.3%. These four viral agents had slightly different clinical patterns. The majority of RSV infections were diagnosed in children less than 2 years of age with bronchiolitis or pneumonia. Yearly outbreaks of RSV were noted during periods corresponding to RSV peaks in northern temperate climates. Adenoviral infections occurred most frequently in children between 1 and 5 years of age with tracheobronchitis or pneumonia in association with high fever. Parainfluenza viral infections were usually associated with tracheobronchitis and pneumonia. Influenza infections usually occurred in older children with pneumonia associated with high fever, headache, and myalgias. Bacteremias were identified in four patients with lower respiratory tract infections. Twenty percent of children with moderate or severe malnutrition and an acute respiratory illness were bacteremic. Three of the four children with moderate or severe malnutrition, pneumonia, and fever greater than 38.9°C had a positive blood culture. There were 17 children seen who required hospitalization and three subsequent deaths in this group.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluwabukola M. Akinloye ◽  
Esa Rönkkö ◽  
Carita Savolainen-Kopra ◽  
Thedi Ziegler ◽  
Bamidele A. Iwalokun ◽  
...  

Occurrence of different viruses in acute respiratory tract infections of Nigerian children was examined. Respiratory swabs were collected from 246 children referred to hospital clinics because of acute respiratory symptoms from February through May 2009. Validated real-time RT-PCR techniques revealed nucleic acids of at least one virus group in 189 specimens (77%). Human rhinoviruses and parainfluenza viruses were present each in one third of the children. Adenoviruses, enteroviruses, human metapneumovirus, human bocavirus, and influenza C virus were also relatively common. Possibly due to their seasonal occurrence, influenza A and B virus, and respiratory syncytial virus were detected rarely. We conclude that all major groups of respiratory tract viruses are causing illness in Nigerian children.


2019 ◽  
Vol 113 (8) ◽  
pp. 446-452
Author(s):  
Damilola M Oladele ◽  
Dimeji P Oladele ◽  
Rasheedat M Ibraheem ◽  
Mohammed B Abdulkadir ◽  
Rasaki Adewole Raheem ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRIs) especially severe ALRIs, constitute a global high burden of morbidity and mortality in children <5 y of age and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been documented to a play a major aetiological role. However, Nigerian reports on severe childhood RSV ALRIs are rare and most reports are old. With recent advances in RSV preventive strategy, arises the need for a recent appraisal of RSV infection in children with severe ALRI. The current study thus set out to determine the prevalence of RSV infection among hospitalized children <5 y of age and describe the related social determinants. Methods We performed a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted over 1 y of 120 children, ages 2–59 months, diagnosed with ALRI. Relevant data were obtained and an antigen detection assay was used for viral studies. Results The prevalence of RSV infection was 34.2% and its peak was in the rainy months. The proportion of infants in the RSV-positive group was significantly higher than that in the RSV-negative group (82.9% vs 54.4%; p=0.002). These findings were largely consistent with those of earlier reports. Conclusions RSV has remained a common cause of severe ALRI in infants, especially during the rainy months in Nigeria. It is thus suggested that more effort be focused towards implementing the current global recommendations for the prevention of RSV-associated LRI, particularly in infants.


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