ABSTRACT
Introduction: Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are the leading cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality worldwide. Information about etiological agents of ARI in developing countries is still limited. Methodology: Throat swabs collected from children hospitalized with ARI between December 2009 and May 2010 were investigated for Chlamydophila pneumoniae; Mycoplasma pneumoniae; and influenza viruses by molecular analyses. Results: This study conducted in Alexandria; Egypt; was designed to determine the prevalence of several microorganisms in 156 children hospitalized with ARI. Overall; samples from 76 individuals (49) were found to be positive for at least one pathogen; and 10 of them were positive for two agents. C. pneumoniae was the most commonly detected agent; followed by M. pneumonia and H1N1 pandemic influenza virus. Positivity for C. pneumoniae was associated with colder months and mild disease of the upper respiratory tract such as laryngitis. Conclusions: Further studies are needed to identify other possible agents of ARI (e.g.; RSV; adenoviruses; other bacterial infections) in this population and to better understand the causal role of atypical bacteria detected in respiratory samples