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RNA viruses in young Nepalese children hospitalized with severe pneumonia

Maria Mathisen1, Sudha Basnet, Arun Sharma

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway. maria.mathisen2@unn.no

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|August 24, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was the main cause of severe pneumonia in young children in Nepal. This study highlights RSV as a dominant viral pathogen in hospitalized children with severe pneumonia.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Virology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Pneumonia is a major global cause of childhood mortality, especially in low-income countries.
  • Limited data exists on the viral causes of severe pneumonia in these high-burden regions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the viral etiology of severe pneumonia in young children in Nepal.
  • To identify the predominant respiratory viruses associated with severe pneumonia hospitalizations.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of nasopharyngeal aspirates from 629 children (2-35 months) with severe pneumonia in Kathmandu, Nepal (2006-2008).
  • Detection of 7 respiratory viruses using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Main Results:

  • Respiratory viruses were detected in 30% of children.
  • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was the most frequently identified virus (14%), followed by influenza A (4.5%) and parainfluenza virus (PIV) types (3, 1, 2).
  • Severe pneumonia peaks coincided with RSV infection peaks, particularly during the monsoon and winter seasons.

Conclusions:

  • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the dominant viral pathogen causing severe pneumonia in hospitalized young children in Nepal.
  • Understanding viral etiologies is crucial for managing childhood pneumonia in resource-limited settings.
Abstract

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