[Hibernal respiratory disorders]

A long term serological surveillance of the acute respiratory illnesses was conducted, looking for infections by adenoviruses, influenza A.B.C. parainfluenza 1,2,3 and respiratory syncytial viruses as well as Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Coxiella burneti and Chlamydia psittaci. The analysis of the results accumulated for the past 20 years was carried out. Influenza C. Coxiella burneti and Chlamydia psittaci infections were rare and could not account for any epidemic prevalence. The other agents produced mostly winter infections, but their contribution to the annual peak varied from year to year. One or several infections were associated with 21% of our total number of acute respiratory illnesses. Beside their close association with winter disease, the respiratory agents could be found all over the year, both amongst patients with or without respiratory tract involvement. To identify the above mentioned viruses we have been using monoclonal antibodies for 30 months including three epidemic seasons. From december 1987 on, we examined nearly 600 cell specimens collected by pharyngeal washing amongst young children admitted to local hospitals for respiratory tract involvement. The results were in agreement with those given by the serological surveillance. We still lack convenient methods to identify the agents which could account for most of the common acute respiratory diseases.