Viral etiology of acute respiratory infections among children in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Etiologia viral das infecções respiratórias agudas em Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Selir M. Straliotto, Marilda M. Siqueira, Rafael L. Muller, Gilberto B. Fischer, Mara L.T. Cunha, Sandra M. Nestor
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2002
• Subjects: Vírus respiratórios sinciciais; Adenovirus; Infecções respiratórias agudas; Criança; Respiratory syncytial virus; Acute respiratory infections; Child; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic; Ari; Aris
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0037-86822002000400002; https://doaj.org/article/3d37f2e8995e4e2f8256d66678da2b5f

Although acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are a major cause of child morbidity and mortality in Southern Brazil, little information is available on their seasonality and viral etiology. This study was conducted on children under 5 years of age with ARI to assess viral etiology in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, from 1990 to 1992. A total of 862 nasopharyngeal secretion (NPS) samples were tested using indirect immunofluorescence. The results showed that 316 (36.6%) NPS samples were positive: 26.2% for RSV, 6% for adenovirus, 1.7% for influenzaviruses, 1.5% for parainfluenzaviruses, and 1.2% for mixed infection. The mean viral prevalence rates in out-patient services, emergency wards, and in-patient hospital wards were 26.7%, 53% and 42.3%, respectively. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenovirus accounted for 91.4 % of the viral diagnoses. RSV was more frequent in children under one year of age at the three levels of health care and was prevalent in infants under six months. Adenovirus was the most prevalent pathogen in hospitalized children, in 1992. Influenza A virus showed an increased prevalence with age among out-patient children. This study shows the annual occurence of viral respiratory infections in the coldest months, with a significant annual variation in the frequency of RSV infection. Embora as IRAs sejam importante causa de morbidade e mortalidade infantil no sul do Brasil, poucas e esparsas informações são disponíveis sobre sazonalidade e etiologia viral. Este estudo foi realizado em crianças menores de 5 anos de idade com IRAs para avaliar a importância da etiologia viral no Rio Grande do Sul, no período de 1990 a 1992. Foram processadas 862 secreções de nasofaringe, por imunofluorescência indireta. Os resultados mostraram que 316 (36,6%) amostras foram positivas: 26,2% para vírus respiratório sincicial (VRS), 6% para adenovírus, 1,7% para vírus influenza, 1,5% para vírus parainfluenza e 1,2% para infecção mista. As médias das prevalências virais nos serviços de ambulatório, emergência e ...