RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To study the circulation pattern of respiratory viruses in out patients department (OPD) and hospitalized children with acute respiratory tract infection. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from 385 children with acute respiratory tract infections attending the OPD (n=199, 51.7%) and admitted to pediatric ward (n=186, 43.2%). Specimens were screened for seven respiratory viruses by immunofluoresence test (IFT) using Respiratory panel 1 screening and identification kit. RESULTS: Viral antigens were detected in 57 (28.6%) and 86 (46.2%) patients from OPD and admitted cases respectively, giving an overall positivity of 143 (37.1%) for respiratory viruses. Of the six respiratory viruses, the most common was respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in 100 (26%) patients, followed by influenza viruses in 21 (5.4%), parainfluenza in 8 (2.07%), adenovirus in 3 (0.8%). One patient had mixed infection of RSV and adenovirus. RSV was most frequently detected in the hospitalized children (39.8%). CONCLUSION: RSV appeared to be the most common respiratory viral infection in the age group 0-1 year causing hospitalization.