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Parainfluenza type 3 outbreaks in Izmir children, Turkey

Figen Gülen1, Candan Cicek, Zafer Kurugol

  • 1Division of Allergy and Pulmonology, Department of Pediatrics, Ege University Medical Faculty, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey. figen.gulen@ege.edu.tr

Tropical Doctor
|November 9, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Parainfluenza type 3 virus caused over half of lower respiratory tract infections in a winter study. Accurate diagnosis can prevent unnecessary antibiotic use and aid patient isolation.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatric Respiratory Illness

Background:

  • Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) pose a significant health burden.
  • Viral etiologies are common causes of LRTIs, particularly in children.
  • Accurate etiological diagnosis is crucial for appropriate management and infection control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the characteristics of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) caused by parainfluenza type 3 virus.
  • To determine the prevalence of parainfluenza type 3 in pediatric LRTI cases during a specific winter season.
  • To highlight the importance of etiological diagnosis in managing viral respiratory infections.

Main Methods:

  • Nasopharyngeal smears were collected from 178 patients diagnosed with lower respiratory infections.
  • Samples were tested for common respiratory viruses including respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, influenza, and parainfluenza viruses.
  • Viral isolation and identification were performed between December 2004 and April 2005.

Main Results:

  • Parainfluenza type 3 virus was identified as the causative agent in 96 (53.9%) of the patients studied.
  • An outbreak of parainfluenza type 3 infections was observed during the winter months.
  • The findings indicate a high prevalence of parainfluenza type 3 during the study period.

Conclusions:

  • Parainfluenza type 3 is a significant contributor to lower respiratory tract infections in the studied population.
  • Timely and accurate etiological diagnosis of viral infections is essential.
  • Improved diagnosis can lead to reduced unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions and facilitate effective patient isolation strategies.

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