Viral Agents Causing Acute Respiratory Infections in Children under Five: A Study from Eastern India

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Pravakar Mishra1, Lipika Nayak1, Rashmi Ranjan Das2

  • 1SVP Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics, SCB Medical College & Hospital, Cuttack 753007, India.

International Journal of Pediatrics
|December 27, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Viruses are a major cause of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in young children. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus (ADV), rhinovirus (RV), and influenza virus (IFV) were most frequently identified.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are a significant cause of child mortality and morbidity in developing nations.
  • Understanding the viral etiology of ARIs in children under five is crucial for effective public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the prevalence and types of viruses causing ARIs in children under five in Eastern India.
  • To determine the association between specific viruses and the type of respiratory infection (URI vs. LRI).

Main Methods:

  • An observational study was conducted over two years in a tertiary care hospital.
  • Nasal and throat swabs from 300 children with ARIs were analyzed using mono/multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Main Results:

  • Viruses were detected in 248 (82.7%) of the children studied.
  • Rhinovirus and adenovirus were most common in upper respiratory infections (URIs), while respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza virus (IFV) predominated in lower respiratory infections (LRIs).
  • Multiple viruses were detected in 19.4% of URI cases and 9.6% of LRI cases.

Conclusions:

  • Viruses are a significant contributor to ARIs in children under five in the studied region.
  • RSV, adenovirus, rhinovirus, and IFV are the most prevalent viral pathogens responsible for ARIs in this age group.

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