[Virological research in acute respiratory diseases in 1976--1977 (author's transl)]

From October 1976 to June 1977 virological researches have been carried out on 5 subjects with influenza, on 302 children hospitalized in pediatric departments for respiratory illness and 94 children hospitalized in the same departments for other (non respiratory) diseases. The incidence of influenza was moderate and restricted to small epidemic episodes in school and preschool children. The isolated viruses resulted of A type, substantially similar to the prototype strains appeared from 1972 to 1975. Among children hospitalized for respiratory diseases Adenoviruses (6.8%) and, with decreasing frequency, Enteroviruses, paraifluenza viruses and RS have been also isolated. The incidence of isolation of RS virus is significantly related to bronchopneumonia cases in infants under on year of age. The incidence of significant increases of FC antibodies against influenza (A and B) viruses, RS and Myc. pneumoniae in children with bronchitis and broncho-pneumonia is also considerable. The drawing of pharyngeal swabs at different intervals from the entry to the hospital has shown that the shedding of respiratory viruses is generally very short and that hospital cross-infections may occur.